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^VYoMinG ^^w^LLeY 




I N 1892 



Bv S. R. SMITH, - - Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 



THE SCRANTON REPUBLICAN I'RINT 
1892 







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ppolegon^er)^' 






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HAS scarce!}^ a rival in scenery, mineral 
wealth, and liistorical interest. Nature, wear}- 
of repetition, created it to embod}- her high- 
est conception of beaut}- and made it the 
repository of unlimited wealth, and for unrecorded ages was satis- 
fied to gaze alone upon the loveliness of her own creation. It has 
an unwritten history and a forgotten literature which can onl}^ 
be guessed at b}^ what Ave know of the past. 

The valle}^ as seen from the mountain top will never lose its 
charm; but below the poetry is marred, the enchanting spell is 
broken and the dreaming spirit broods no longer over this inland 
Eden. 

Of its past history we have onl\- a few conflicting fragments, but 
these fragments have made this spot famous and have awakened 
the interest and sympathy of mankind. 

Its future history will be found in the statistical reports of its 
industries and the record of its material wealth. 

Neither in a literal nor Pickwickian sense would we refer irrever- 
ently to ancestor worship among us. Nor would we make mention 
of John Barleycorn and our forefathers at the same time, or doubt 
any of our traditions. 



4 PROLEGOMENA. 

We have dispossessed the Indian of this "beautiful oasis in tlie 
wilderness" and have refused to recognize his manhood; and be- 
cause, he, forsooth, poor worm, turned upon the "Forty Thieves," 
we call him a blood-thirsty savage and concede to him no more 
rights tlian to the wild beast, and deny him the God-given right 
of self-protection; but even our partial history discloses that the 
hand that murdered and applied the torch was oftener white than 
red. 

The Indian of this region was an admirable specimen of a noble 
race of men, whose intelligence, temperance and manliness com- 
mand our admiration and are worthy of our imitation. We call 
him pidluresque, stoical and unique, bi;t he was also a philosopher, 
a poet, and one who worshiped God and lived in harmony with 
nature. His real character stands revealed in the matchless mu- 
sical poetry of the names he gave to the mountains, streams and 
plains of this valley, and which will be his glory and his only 
monument. 

Our future greatness is the dream of the present day, but even 
a fair appi^ehensiou of the reality is beyond the highest prophetic 
instinct of this generation. Our increasing prosperit}', our inex- 
haustible resources and our natural advantages promise that the 
Wyoming Valle^' is yet destined to contain the largest inland city 
of the East. 

We believe that in this compilation we have planted immor- 
telles and forget-me-nots upon the graves of the dead, and have 
made a record of the present that the future will read with 
interest. 

S. R. Smith. 

Kingston, Pa., March, 1892. 



f\ Brief J^i5tory of U/yomi9(§ l/a!ley 



HV FREDERIC CORSS. 




Land Tengke. 

AMONG our Indian predecessors tlie condition of 
Ji\, land-holding appears lo have been the ability to 
hold it. This law has prevailed among primitive 
^i, j^x people during historic time. Thus the career of 
.. f\.v^ tlie men of Jericho came to a sudden end and thus 
^>"~'^ the Moabites perished miserably. The Kelts 

drove the Euskarians into the Cymric mountains, 
the Saxons dispossessed the earlier Kelts, and Wil- 
liam the Norman divided their land into some 
sixty thousand Knights' Fees (1066). This may 
be a cruel law, but it is a law of nature — a struggle for existence 
and the survival of the fittest. In terms of the same denomination, 
the Conneclicut settlers held against t!ie Pennamites. In advanc- 
ing civilization the struggle is for governmental control without 
dispossessing the occupants. Thus Rome lost universal sway and 
England lost France and American colonies. Thus the Caucasians 
have ousted earlier Americans. 




6 A BRIEF HISTORY. 

Indian Tenants. 

\ A /E do not know who were tlie first Indian occupants of the 
valle}'. The Delawares claimed tliat the}- liad dispossessed 
the Aquanuschioui, who had themselves wrested the territor}? from 
the Snsqnehannocks, but the militar}- nloiinds mentioned by Stone 
in proof of the high power of those earlier tribes, are natural mounds 
or kamcs formed during the flooded river epoch. 

The Delawares or Lenni-Leuape were an agricultural tribe 
indisposed to war, and had been despoiled of their part of their 
communal farm by the federated tribes of the Iroquois. Thus the 
white incursion found the valley nominally owned by the Mohawks, 
Senecas, Onondagoes, Oneidas and Cajaigas, who were joined by 
the Tuscaroras in 17 12, forming the Six Nations. 

White Tenants. 

IN Governor Hoyt's S3'llabus we read: "In 176S, at Hartford, 
the Snsquehanna Company resolved that five townships, five 
miles squares, should be survej^ed and granted, each to forty settlers, 
being proprietors, on condition that those settlers should remain 
upon the ground; man their rights; and defend themselves, and 
each other from the intrnsion of all rival claimants. Five town- 
ships were assigned to these first adventurers: Wilkes-Barre, Han- 
over, Kingston, Ph-month and Pittston. Kingston, the first town- 
ship occnpied, was allotted to " fort}' " settlers. The lands were 
divided into rights of four hundred acres each, reserving and appor- 
tioning three whole rights, or shares, in each township for the public 
use of a gospel ministry and schools in each of said towns. A stock- 
ade was erected on the river bank in Kingston, called "Forty Fort." 
But the colonists of the Snsquehanna Company were not the first 
upon the ground. 'The Penns had leased to Stewart, Ogden and Jen- 
nings, one hundred acres for seven years on condition of defending the 
lands against the ConneAicut claimants. They arrived ;ipon the 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 7 

ground in January, 1769, and occupied the block-house and huts 
at Mill Creek which had been left b_v the massacred settlers of 
1763.'" Let us briefly' examine each of these rival claims: 

CoNiiEcricaT Title. 

A - /ILKES-BARRE is situated in latitude north 41° 14' 40.4", 
and east longitude from Washington 1° 10' 46". 

1. The English claimed b}' right of discover}- all the land from 
latitude 34° to 48°, from the Atlantic Coast to the South Sea 
(Pacific). 

2. King James I issued a patent to the Council of Plyniouth, 
November 3, i62d, for all the land from 40° to 48° across the 
continent. 

3. The President of the Plymouth Council, March 19, 1631, 
deeded to Lord Sa}^ and Seal et at., land from the Narragansett 
river to the southwest forty leagues to keep the breadth to the South 
Sea. This deed conferred right to soil but not powers of govern- 
ment. Lord Sa}- and Seal et al. appointed John Wiuthrop their 
agent. 

4. John Winthrop and others were granted a Charter as the 
Connecticut Colony by Charles II, April 20, 1662, confirming the 
deed of ]March 19, 1631, and conferring the right to govern, which 
the Plymouth Colon}- had resigned in 1635. 

5. In 1753, about six hundred of the inhabitants of the Colony 
of Connecticut voluntarily associated themselves under the name 
of the Susquehanna Company, for the purpose of planting a colony 
within the bounds of the mother colony. 

6. The Susqiiehanna Company to perfect their title, bought of 
certain chiefs of the Five Nations {sic) for ten thousand dollars 
lands including the valley, July 11, 1754. 



8 A BRIEF HISTORY. 

PENnSYLVAMIA TiTLE. 

PIRST. Charles II granted a Charter to William Penn, March 
4, 1681, for lands bounded east by the Delaware river from 
twelve miles north of New Castle to north latitude 43°, thence 
westward 5° of longitude. 

2. Twenty-three chiefs of the Six Nations, 0(?tober 11, i736y 
deeded to the Penns lands on both sides of the River Susquehanna^ 
&c., &c. This deed was supplemented by explanatory deeds, &c., 
on Oftober 25, 1736; July 6, 1754; July 9, 1754, and November 
5, 1765- 

riK5T PENNAniTE WA^. 

JT thus appears that the CouneAicut settlers derived their title 
from Charles II by Charter dated 1662, and the Pennamites 
their title from the same monarch in 16S1. The Indian deed to 
the Penns was dated 1736, and to the Yankees 1754. 

Here begins the First Pennamite War. Ogden, Jennings and 
Stewart, in Januarj', 1769, occupied the land leased from the Penns. 
In the following month the first party of Yankees came upon the 
ground and proceeded to besiege the Pennamite block-house at 
Mill Creek. Three of their number entered the fort for a confer- 
ence, when they were arrested in the name of Pennsylvania and 
carried to jail at Eastou. They were released on bail and returned 
to their comrades, when Ogden with a Northampton county posse 
came upon the field, captured their fort and carried them all to 
Easton. They were released on bail and all came back. 

In April they were joined by two hundred more Connedlicut 
settlers, and proceeded to eredl Fort Durkee on the river bank at 
the foot of South street. The to^\•n had been laid out by Major 
Durkee, and named after two members of Parliament — Wilkes 
and Barre. 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 9 

The same Ogden with his posse, fortified by a four pound canuon, 

captured Fort Diirkee and drove off the Yankees in September, 

* 
remaining in possession nntil the next assault. 

In Februar}', 1770, Captain Stewart arrived with a compan}' from 
Hanover, Lancaster county, and captured the fort and garrison 
left by Ogden, who forthwith crfme on from Philadelphia with fifty 
men and gained possession of the IMill Creek block-house. In a 
subsequent "engagement" the Connedlicnt people lost one man 
killed, the first fatal casualty in the war. Stewart was finally suc- 
cessful and forced Ogden to retire in April. "However, with a new 
force Ogden appeared in September, and, b}' stratagem, most of the 
inhabitants being in their fields without arms, once more captnred 
the fort, dispersed the settlers and destroyed their crops. For the 
fourth time he retired to Philadelphia in the full belief that the 
contest was at an end. On the i8th of December, Captain Lazarus 
Stewart with thirty- men again swooped down upon Ogden's gar- 
rison, and the year closed with the valley in possession of the 
Yankees." 

In 1771 hostilities were renewed b^' Ogden, who "abandoned his 
fortress of Mill Creek and defiantly erected a new one, Fort Wyo- 
ming, within sixt3' rods of his adversary." Ogden demanded of 
Captain Stewart the surrender of Fort Durkee, which was refused, 
when he made an assault, in which several were killed, but failed; 
and being in turn besieged, escaped himself b}- a stratagem and 
his garrison surrendered in April, 1771. 

"On July 3-7, 1772, Colonel Plunkett, of Northumberland county, 
under orders of the Government, destroyed the settlements of 
Charleston and Judea (AWton), on the West Branch, which had 
been made under the auspices of the Susquehanna Company, in 
which affair several lives were lost. With about five hundred 
armed men, in December, 1775, Colonel Plunkett, with his train 
of boats and stores of ammunition, moved up the North Branch to 
dri\e off the Connedlicut settlers from the Wyoming country. 



10 A BRIEF HISTORY. 

About three hundred of these settlers met him at Nanticoke, aud 
repulsed him with some loss of life on both sides; aud thus euded 
the First Pennamite War. 



The Decree or Trenton. 

••^r^HE Conne6licut people had thus shown that the}' were de 
facto owners of the vallej'. The National Congress (the 
United States came later), existing under the articles of confedera- 
tion, now interposed with a resolution that the "contending parties 
immediately cease all liostilities, and avoid au}^ appearance of force 
until the dispute can be legally settled." Many of the settlers 
entered the Revolutionarj' army, many were slain in the massacre 
of 1778, and a remnant remained in peaceable possession for several 
years. On August 28, 1782, upon petition of Pennsylvania, Con- 
gress, overruling the objection of Connecticut, who wished for delay, 
appointed Commissiouers "to constitute a Court for hearing and 
determining the matter in questiou, to meet at Trenton, in the State 
of New Jersey, on Tuesda^r, the 12th day of November next, to 
hear and finally determine the controversy between the State of 
Pennsylvania and the State of Connecticut, so alwa3'S as a major part 
of said Commissioners, who shall hear the cause, shall agree in the 
determination." 

The decree of the Court was pronounced on December 30, 17S2, as 
follows: "We are unanimously of the opinion that the State of 
Connecticut has no right to the lands in controvers}'. 

"We are also unanimousl}? of the opinion that \\-\^ jurisdiction and 
pre-emption of all the territory- lying within the charter boundary of 
Pennsylvania, aud now claimed b}' the State of Connecticut, do of 
right belong to the State of Pennsylvania." 

This decree had reference only to the governmental jurisdiction of 
the States coucerned, and was not held to affect the private owner- 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. ii 

ship of the soil. Tlie Commissioners private!}- stated that the right 
of soil, as derived from Connecticut, should be held sacred. 



The Jecond Penmamite War. 

*-OHE authorities of Pennsylvania proceeded to act upon the theory 
that the Connecticut people had no right to the soil. "Of the 
Yankee settlers there were probabl}' six thousand. These were scat- 
tered niainl}' in seventeen townships in the cotmt}' of Luzerne, then 
including the territor}- of Wyoming, Susquehanna, and Bradford. 
These townships were five miles square, and extended in blocks from 
Berwick to Tioga Point, embracing the bottom lands along the river, 
Providence, the present site of Scran ton, being on the Lackawanna. 
These townships were Huntington, Salem, Ph-mouth, Kingston, 
Newport, Hanover, Wilkes- Barre, Pittston, Providence, Exeter, Bed- 
ford, Northmoreland, Putnam, Braintrim, Springfield, Claverack, 
and Ulster." 

Upon petition of these people for redress of grievances, the Assem- 
bh" of Pennsj-lvania resolved that Commissioners be appointed to 
make inquiries and report to the House. Pending their action the 
Assembly passed the Act of March 13, 17S3, staying all writs and 
processes to dispossess the inhabitants until the end of the following 
session. Meanwhile the Commissioners arrived and proceeded to 
make it interesting for the settlers. They proposed to lease to them 
the lands for one 3'ear and no more, but to allow the war widows an 
additional 3'ear after the first of April, 1784. The report of the 
Commissioners to the Assembly in August, 1783, .was in effect the 
same as the proposal to the settlers, and received the ratification of 
the Assembh", witli a shadowy offer of compensation for lands surren- 
dered in land in Western Pennsylvania. 

The consequence was the era of Captain Patterson. He had been 
the chairman of a committee of Penns3'lvania land holders, and was 
now a Justice of the Peace. He changed the name of Wilkes-Barre 



12 A BRIEF HISTORY. 

to Londouderr}'. For protection against tlie rudeness and licentious- 
ness of the soldiers, he arrested Colonel Zebulon Butler, then just 
returned from service in the Revolutionary Army. Him he sent to 
Sunbury, charged with high treason. In Plymouth he arrested 
man}' respectable citizens, feeble old men, whose sous had fallen in 
the massacre, Prince Alden, Captain Bidlack, Benjamin Harvey, 
Samuel Ransom, Captain Bates, and others greatly beloved by their 
neighbors. They were kept in loathsome prisons, starved, and in- 
sulted. They were disposssessed, and Patterson's tenants put into 
their places. Having been petitioned by the people, the Assembly 
sent a committee of investigation, who reported that the wrongs of the 
people were intolerable. But tl:e Assembly failed to remove the 
obnoxious Captain. 

"The inliabitants finding, at length, that the burden of their calamities wa& 
too great to be borne, began to resist the illegal proceedings of their new masters, 
and refused to compl}' with the decisions of the mock tribunals which had been 
established. Their resistance enraged the magistrates, and on the 12th of May, 
the soldiers of the garrison were sent to disarm them, and, under this pretense, 
one hundred and fifty families were turned out of their dwellings, manj' of which 
were burned ; and all ages and sexes reduced to the same destitute condition. 
After being plundered of their little remaining property, thej- were driven from 
tlie valley, and compelled to proceed on foot through the wilderness by way of the 
Lackawaxen to the Delaware, a distance of eighty miles. During the journey 
the unhappy fugitives sufiisred all the miseries which human nature seemed 
capable of enduring. Old men, whose children were slain in battle, widows 
with their infant children, and children without parents to protect them, were 
here companions in exile and sorrow, and wandering in a wilderness where 
famine and ravenous beasts continued daily to lessen the number of sufferers." 

Patterson himself said : "The settlements upon the river have suffered much 
b)' an inundation of ice, which has swept away the greatest part of the grain 
and stock of all kinds, so that the inhabitants are generally very poor. Upon my 
arrival at this place (Wyoming), the 15th instant, (April, 1784,) I found the 
people for the most part disposed to give up their pretensions to the land claimed 
under Connecticut. Havi7ig a pretty general agency front the landholders of 
Pennsylvania, I have availed myself of this period ?inA have possessed, in behalf of 
my constituents, the chief part of all the lands occupied by the above claimants. 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 13 

numbers of them going up the river to settle, and filling up their vacancy with 
well disposed Pennsylvanians, * ^ * * vet I am not out of 

apprehension of trouble and danger arising from the ringleaders of the old 
offenders," &c. 

Wherever news of this outrage reached, indignation was aroused, and nowhere 
more generously than in Pennsylvania. The troops were ordered to be dis- 
missed. Sheriff Antis, of Northumberland county, which then included Wyo- 
ming, went to restore order. Messengers were dispatched to recall the fugitives. 
But they found Justice Patterson still flaming with wrath, and went into garrison 
near Forty Fort. Two young men, Elisha Garrett and Chester Pierce, having 
been slain bj- Patterson's men while proceeding to gather crops, the settlers 
rallied for serious hostilities. John Franklin organized what effective men he 
could find. He swept down the west side of the Susquehanna and up the east 
-side, dispossessing every Pennsylvania family he found. He attacked the fort 
to which they fled, was repulsed with the loss of several lives on each side, and 
returned to the Kingston fort. Civil war now openly prevailed. (Forty of the 
Pennsylvania party were indicted at Sunbury, and subsequenly convicted for 
their participation in expelling the inhabitants.) Other magistrates, Hewitt, 
Mead and Martin, had been sent to open negotiations. They demanded a sur- 
render of arms from both sides. In their report to the President and members 
■of the Supreme Council, under date of August 6, 1784. they say: "In obedi- 
ence to the instructions of Council of the 24th of July, we repaired to this place, 
{Wyoming,) and found the Pennsylvania and Connecticut parties in actual 
hostilities, and yesterday made a demand of the Connecticut party for a surren- 
der of their arms, and submission to the laws of the State, which they complied 
with. We also made a demand of the same nature of the party in the garrison, 
but have received no direct, but an evasive answer. * * * '■'■- As 
to the pretended titles of the Conecticut party we have nothing to fear, and are 
convinced that had it not been throjigh the cruel and irregular conduct of our people, 
the peace might have been established long since, and the dignity of the government 
supported.'' 

Again, under date of August 7th: "We have dispersed the Connecticut 
people, but our own people ive cannot." 

The "party in the garrison" consisted of Patterson and such troops as had 
enlisted under him in the interest of the Landholders, without anj"^ warrant of 
law. When Patterson refused to surrender, the Connecticut people were per- 
mitted to resume their arms. At this stage, Colonels Armstrong and Boyd 
appeared with a force of four hundred militia from Northampton county. By a 
piece of the most absolute treachery he (Armstrong) procured the surrender of 



14 A BRIEF HISTORY. 

the Yankees, and marched them, sixty-six in all, bound with cords, and under 
circumstances of great cruelty, to jail at Easton and Sunbury. The conquest 
was complete. "The only difficulty that remained was how to get rid of the 
wives and children of those in jail, and of the widows and orphans whose hus- 
bands and fathers slept beneath the sod." 

Colonel Armstrong was now confronted, to his surprise, by the censure of the 
State authorities. The "council of censors" looked into the case, and took 
action. Frederick A. Muhlenberg was President. This body had just been 
chosen under the Constitution of 1776, and it was their duty " to inquire whether 
the Constitution has been preserved inviolate in every part, and whether the 
legislative and executive branches of the government have performed their duty 
as guardians of the people, or assumed to themselves, or exercised other or 
greater powers than they are entitled to under the Constitution." 

In September, 1784, they delivered a solemn denunciation of the measures 
pursued against the Wyoming settlers. 

The Executive Council paid no heed to the censure nor to the advice of Presi- 
dent Dickinson. A fresh levy of troops was ordered. The militia of Bucks, 
Berks and Northampton refused to march. Armstrong hastened to Wyoming 
with less than a hundred men in October. He promptly attacked the settlers in 
their fort, at Kingston, without success.. William Jackson, a Yankee, had been 
wounded. Captain John Franklin seized Jackson's rifle, bloody from his 
wound, and swore a solemn oath "that he would never lay down his arms until 
death should arrest his hand, or Patterson and Armstrong be expelled from 
Wyoming, and the people restored to their rights of possession, and a legal trial 
guaranteed to every citizen by the Constitution, by justice, and by law." 

General Armstrong went on to dispossess the families who had returned to 
their farms. All these proceedings led up to the passage of the Act of Assembly 
of September 15, 1784, entitled "An Act for the more speedy restoring the posses- 
sion of certain messuages, lands, and tenements in Northumberland county, to 
the persons who held the same," under which the settlers were once more led 
into some assurance. 

Armstrong and Patterson were recalled. "Thus ended the last expedition 
fitted out by the government of Pennsylvania to operate against her own peace- 
ful citizens," and "the Second Pennamite War." 

The Comtejt m the CociRT5 and Lequlature. 

-T^HE Connecticut settler.s had became distrustful of all Pennsyl- 
vania measures. Commissioners appointed b};- the Susquehanna 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 15 

Company attempted the expedient of seceding from the State and 
forming a new body politic out of the townships claimed by the Sus- 
quehanna Compan3-. "General Ethan Allen was in the scheme, and 
actuall}- appeared at W3'oming in regimentals and cocked hat with 
the Green Moiintain bo\^s fresh from their victories over New York 
in reserve. They issued "half-share" rights in great numbers, and 
new faces, strangers to the old settlers, began swarming into the val- 
ley. So the old settlers were confronted with a new danger, which 
finally led to the passage of the Confirming Act of March 27, 1787, 
namely: ^'' Aji Act for ascertaining and confirming to certain persons 
called Connecticut claimants the lands by them claimed in the conntv oj 
Luzerne?'' It included a scheme for "granting a just compensation 
to the Pennsylvania claimants." 

This was suspended in 1778, March 29, and was finally repealed 
April I, 1790. While this act was in force occurred the Ethan Allen 
episode, which ended in the arrest of John Franklin for treason. At 
last, on April 4, 1799, the Legislature passed an act which virtually 
established the Yankee titles, granting certificates under certain 
restrictions. 

The foregoing account has been compiled from "Brief of Title in 
the Seventeen Townships," b3'' Governor Henry M. Hoyt. The his- 
tor}' illustrates the primitive s3-stem of holding land vi et arniis, 
followed by the legal struggles indicating an increasing regard for 
law and its restraints. The principle finallv prevailed that in a 
newl3^ occupied region the first actual settlers and improvers of the 
soil have a right to its possession. 

IMDIAN MAJJACRE5. 

-^■^HE First ^Massacre of whites b3- Indians in tlie valle3- oc- 
curred in 1763. In the previous year a number of proprietors 
had made a clearing near the Susquehanna at Mill Creek. On the 
approach of winter the3- left their farming implements in the woods 



i6 A BRIEF HISTORY. 

and returned to their homes. The next ^-ear, to the number of two 
hundred, they established themselves on the Wilkes-Barre flats. 
They sowed crops and intended to make a permanent settlement, but 
were totally exterminated by the Indians in October. The Paxtang 
Rangers sent by Pennsylvania for their protection, reached the scene 
two days after the massacre, and buried the dead. 

The Wyoming Massacre took place on the third of July, 
1778. We have seen that active warlike hostilities had ceased 
with the defeat of Colonel Plunkett at Nanticoke. Under peace- 
ful cultivation the virgin soil manifested its amazing fertility, and 
the people proceeded to bring civil order into action. They estab- 
lished courts, levied taxes, provided a militar}' order and forts — in 
short, set up a purely democratic and semi-independent body politic. 
In Oftober, 1773, the Provincial Assembly of Connecticut resolved 
to assert and support their claim to the part of their province west 
of New York. For this purpose they sent commissioners to Phila- 
delphia in December to effect a settlement with Pennsylvania. They 
failed in their mission. In January, 1774, the town of West7noreland 
was formed and attached to Litchfield county in Connecticut. This 
town extended from the Delaware river to a line fifteen miles west 
of the Susquehanna. "In 1775 the number of inhabitants at Wyo- 
ming was something more than three thousand," according to 
Governor Hoyt's estimate. Westmoreland township became a sepa- 
rate county, having the same name in 1776, November. Having 
secured civil government the people provided for the common 
defense. "Mrs. Bethiah Jenkins, wife of Lieutenant John Jenkins, 
says the women took up their floors, dug out the earth, put it in 
casks and ran water through it, as ashes are leached. They then 
took ashes in another cask, and made Ive, mixed the water from the 
earth with the lye, boiled it, set it out to cool, and the saltpetre rose 
to the surface. Charcoal and sulphur were then pounded and mixed 
with the saltpetre and powder was thus produced for the public 
■defeuse." {Miner, p. 212) 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 17 

Some of the 3-ouiiger men had gone to Boston and joined the 
Colonial forces, and had fallen at the battle of Bunker Hill. Some 
families had returned to Connecticut. Colonel Wisner, of Orange 
count}', New York, had visited the valley and obtained twentj- or 
thirt_y recruits for the ami}- of the Colonies. At a town meeting held 
at Wilkes-Barre, August 24, 1776, Colonel Zebulon Butler, modera- 
tor for ye work of ye da3% it was voted "that this meeting do recom- 
mend to ye people to proceed forthwith to erect forts for the common 
defense, without either fee or reward from ye town." This they did, 
erecting Jenkins's Fort in Exeter township, (near Pittston); Winter- 
mute Fort, about a mile below, and Forty Fort, on the river bank, 
near the present ferry. The block-house at Mill Creek was called 
Wilkes-Barre Fort ; the one at the foot of South street was called 
W^'oming Fort, and the Stevv^art block-house stood on the river bank 
three miles below Wilkes-Barre, being in Hanover township. There 
was also a stockade at Pittston, opposite Jenkins's Fort. 

Under authority of Congress, two companies were organized in 
the town of Westmoreland, and ''stationed in proper places for the 
defense of the inhabitants," August, 1776. On the retreat of Wash- 
ington with his army through New Jersey, these companies were 
■ordered to join W^ashington. Thus a large part of the local fighting 
force was absent from the valley when the time of peril drew near. 
Stimulated by the policy of General Burg03aie, the Indians became 
more troublesome in the northern part of the State, and it was 
learned that many Tories in those regions were in communication 
with Indian scouts. Several whites were captured by these men, 
and taken prisoners to Niagara. "It was known early in the Spring 
of 177S that a large force was collecting at Niagara for the purpose 
of laying waste the frontiers of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New 
York. Early in Ma}- these forces started out on the work of de- 
struction in different bands, with the purpose of concentrating at 
Wj'oming. Brandt led a force of three hundred and fift}- Indians, 
who fought the battle of Cobbleskill on June ist. From there 
Brandt led them to Tioga, where he joined the main bod}- of troops 



i8 A BRIEF HISTORY. 

marching to Wyoming (Jeukius). One body was sent to lay waste 
the settlements on the \\'est Brancli. Meanwhile scouting parties 
were sent up the river from the forts in the valley, who found many 
parties of Indians roving along the river banks. These bands, 
united with about two hundred Tories and two hundred British Pro- 
vincials, descended the Susquehanna in boats to the mouth of Bow- 
man's creek, where they awaited the coming of the West Branch 
division. The united forces, numbering about eleven hundred, then 
advanced to Keeler's Eddy, thence overland to vSi:tton's creek. On 
the morning of July 2 the}' reached the valley and were admitted 
to Wintermute Fort by Tory treachery, which became their head- 
quarters. Forty Fort was speedily occupied by the settlers on the 
west side of the river. The Hanover and Wilkes-Barre companies 
were in their own stockades. On the morning of July 3 the com- 
mander of the invaders, Major (Colonel) John Butler, sent a flag to 
Forty Fort demanding its surrender, which was refused. A messen- 
ger was sent to Colonel Zebulon Butler at VVilkes-Barre to hasten to 
their support, and he responded promptly. Flags sent to the enemy 
to negotiate were fired upon, and the bearers returned. It was then 
decided to go out, and, if possible, defeat the enemy in the field. 
About four hundred accordingl}- marched out at three o'clock in the 
afternoon. 

This decision was reached after a warm argiiment in which Colonel 
Denison, who chanced to be present, urged the necessity of caution 
and prudence in the face of an enemy of unknown strength. This 
opinion seems to have been shared by Colonel Z. Butler, but was 
overruled by the more hasty and fier}^ element among the men, 
especially as they were supported by the advice of Captain Lazarus 
Stewart. They feared a long siege v«'ith insufiScieut provisions and 
with the uncertainty which existed as to the arrival of reinforce- 
ments, especially the companies of Franklin and Spaulding. Captain 
Stewart having charged Colonel Butler with cowardice, was placed 
under arrest, but was discharged when the decision to go forth was 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 19 

reached, and was elected Captain of the Hanover company npon the 
resignation of Captain McKarrachan. 

Plan of the Invaders. 

<■<■ O. S IT became evident to the British commander that the 
V Americans intended to bring on a general engagement, he 
speedily formed his men in line of battle; his left on the edge of a 
steep bank near the river at Fort Wintermute, which for some 
reason had been fired; the line extended across the more elevated 
ground; the right centre being occupied by Johnson's Royal Greens; 
a body of Indian sharp shooters occupied the centre of the line; 
the main body of the Indians was placed on the extreme right, 
extending to an alder swamp, through which the Lackawanna and 
Bloomsburg railroad now passes. Colonel John Butler was in com- 
mand of the left wing in person. It has been asserted by some 
historians that the Indians were commanded by Thayendenaga, a 
distinguished Mohawk chief, known to the white people as Captain 
Brandt. It is also denied on equally good authority that Brandt 
was with the W3'oming expedition at all. Certain it is that it was 
the universal opinion of the people of the valley- at that time, and 
long after the battle, that he was the moving spirit among the 
Indians." 

The DErENbER5. 

'"'' Face to Face ivitli Thrice their Number. — Such was the enemv^'s 
order of battle at 2 P. M. as the Americans approached his line. 
Colonel Zebulon Butler had sent Captains Ransom and Durkee for- 
ward to fix upon a place for forming his line of attack. These 
experienced ofiicers approached as near the enemy's line as they 
deemed prudent, and upon the coming up of the column, the compa- 
nies were directed to deploy right and left, forming in line of battle 



20 A BRIEF HISTORY. 

as they took the places assigned them; the right resting on the 
steep bank fronting the enemy's left, and extending like his, across 
the gravelly flat abont a quarter to half a mile to the morass or 
swamp bonnding it in that direction. The plain intervening between 
the two armies, thus standing face to face in hostile attitiide, was 
thinl}' covered with scrub-oak underbrush and yellow and pitch pine 
trees of stunted growth. Captain Bidlack occupied the extreme 
right; Captain Hewitt the right centre; on the extreme left was 
Captain Whittlesey with the Plymouth companj-. Captain Stewart 
occupied the left centre, while Captains Geer and Buck of Wilkes- 
Barre and Kingston held the centre of the line. Colonel Butler, 
supported by Major John Garrett, commanded the right wing; Col- 
onel Nathan Denison, supported by Lieutenant-Colonel George 
Dorrance, was on the left; Captains Durkee and Ransom, as military 
advisers, were stationed, the first on the right as aid to Captain Bid- 
lack, the latter on the left to assist Captain Whittlesey; Anderson 
Dana was adling Adjutant. No artillery was used on either side, 
and but few of the officers were mounted. As Colonel Butler rode 
along to hastily inspedl the line, he addressed to each companj^ a few 
words of encouragement, exhorting the men to stand firm, as all 
depended upon resisting the first shock. 'Stand firm,' said he, 'and 
the Indians will soon give way.' " 

The Battle. 

" The Battle Opens. — It was about 4 o'clock when the order to 
advance to the attack was given. The men having been told off 
into odds and evens, were ordered to advance alternately by numbers, 
five steps, then halt and deliver fire; while the then rear file would 
again advance and fire in their turn. For a while the firing was 
rapid and steady along the American line, and was returned in an 
equally spirited manner. The enemy's left being hard pressed b}' 
Captain Hewitt's Provincials on our right, began tc recoil, and a 



THE WYOMING VALI^EY. 21 

shoiTt ran along the line that the British were being driven back. 
At this critical moment, the greatly superior number of the enemy 
enabled the Indians on our right to out-flank the Americans at that 
end of the line, and while Captain Whittlesey was hotly engaged in 
front, a large number of the Indians had penetrated the swamp and 
were emerging from the thicket some distance in his rear. Seeing 
this movement Colonel Denison ordered Whittlesey's command to 
change front and form a line facing the enemy in that diredlion. 

",if Fatal Mistake. — The battle had now raged for over half an 
hour and was becoming hot and furious. The savages rushed in 
with fearful yells; still our men stood firm, returning shot for shot 
without thought of giving way before the furious onslaught, but 
when the order was given by Captain Whittlesey for his command 
to wheel backward from the left with a view of forming a right angle 
with the original line, the order was understood by the men to be to 
retreat, and the}- at once became demoralized and broke and fled in 
the wildest confusion. It was in vain that Colonel Butler strove to 
rail}- his men by recklessly' exposing his own life as he passed along 
the line between the two fires; but it was too late; a panic had 
seized upon these raw militia which the assuring words of no Gen- 
eral could allay, and the}- broke and fled as the yelling savages 
doubled up our lines by their onward rush from the left flank. The 
right stood its ground with desperate heroism. One of Captain 
Hewitt's officers said to him, 'we are beaten, the Indians have 
gained our rear, shall we retreat?' 'No! I'll be d — d if I do w-hile a 
man stands by me!' was the heroic reply; and he died at his post 
pierced by a shot from the British Rangers. Thus ended the battle 
of Wyoming, but not the massacre. 

"A portion of the Indians who had thus flanked the American 
left, did not stop to give the finishing blow to this doomed band of 
patriots, but pushed forward to the rear of the defeated army, to cut 
off its retreat to Forty Fort, thus completely hemming in those who 
sought to save tliemselves by flight, the river forming one side of 
the enclosure. Being thus surrounded on all sides, consternation 



22 A BRIKF HLSTORV. 

reigning supreme, with men running hither and thither impelled by 
a sudden fear, the slaughter went on while a man was left within 
the fatal enclosure. Some were taken prisoners by the Greens and 
Rangers of Colonel John Butler, but these were subsequently mas- 
sacred in the most cruel and revolting manner by the Indians on the 
night of that dreadful day. Seventeen were slaughtered by that 
semi-savage Hecate, Queen Esther, on a flat rock a short distance 
above the battle ground. Groups of other dead bodies were found 
in the vicinity', showing that the}' had been murdered in the most 
shocking manner after the}^ had been taken prisoners. Of all the 
prisoners taken on the field, it is not known that half a dozen 
escaped being barbarously murdered by the infuriated Indians; a 
few evaded the vigilance of their captors, and succeeded in making 
their escape while being carried into captivit\\ Some swam the 
river and fled to Wilkes-Barre, while a few passed the cordon of 
Indians in the rear of the battle ground and reached Forty Fort 
unhurt, though hard pressed b}' the pursuing savages to its very 
gates. 

" T/ir Death Roll. — Not less than two hundred of the Conne6licut 
people were slain on that day and night of terror, including Lieut- 
enant-Colonel Dorrance, killed in the retreat; Major Garrett; Ad- 
jutant Dana; the six a(5ling Captains; three volunteer Captains 
without commands; also ten Lieutenants and five non-commissioned 
ofiicers. As some palliation for this fearful death roll, be it said 
with honest sincerity, that it is not known that an\- women or chil- 
dren were murdered during the bloody contest of that day, or during 
the stay of the enemy in the valley, with the approbation or consent 
of the British commander, though a few murders may have been 
committed afterwards in direct violation of his positive orders, by 
the uncontrollable Tories and savages, a6ling as allies. 

"As Colonel Zebulon Butler was a commissioned ofiicer in the 
Continental army, and not willing to run the risk of being taken 
prisoner and carried into captivity, if no worse fate should be in 
store for him, it was judged prudent for him to retire from the 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 23 

valley before a surrender of the forces should take place; therefore 
the task of arranging for the surrender devolved upon Colonel 
Denison, the second in command." 



COMIiEnORATlOM. 

The inscription on the monument, which was written by Edward 
G. Mailer}', is a " chaste and beautiful " record of the da}-: 

" Near this spot was fought 
on the afternoon of Friday, the tliird day of July, 1778, 

The B.^ttlk of Wyoming, 
In which a small band of patriot Americans, chief!}- the 
undisciplined, the youthful and the aged spared by in- 
efficiency from the distant ranks of the Republic, led 
by Col. Zebulon Butler and Col. Nathan Denison, 
with a courage that deserved success, 
boldl)- met and bravely fought 
a combined British Tory and Indian force 
of thrice their number. 
Numerical super.ority alone gave success to the invader 
and wide-spread havoc, desolation and ruin 
marked his savage and bloody footsteps through the valley. 
Tins Monument 
commemorative of these events 
has been erected 
over the bones of the slain 
by their descendants and others who gratefulh' appreciated 
the services and sacrifices of their patriot ancestors." 

The Retreat. 

A remnant of the men escaped the massacre and returned to the 
fort. On the morning of the 4th, Major (Colonel) John Butler sent 
a. flag demanding capitulation, and requesting Colonel Denison to 
come to headquarters and agree to the terms. A demand was made 



Z4 A BRIEF HISTORY. 

for the surreuder as prisoners of war of Colonel Z. Butler, Lieuten- 
ant Jenkins, and all the Continental troops. These parties imme- 
diately fled across the mountains, and the final agreement was that 
the property of the people up the river, named Tories, should be 
made good, and they to remain in peaceable' possession of their 
farms. This agreement lends a color of plausibility, though not 
proof, that the massacre was instigated by the Tories, many of 
whom were Pennamites. The terms were otherwise favorable to the 
remaining settlers. Bnt Colonel Denison says: "Nevertheless, 
the enemy being powerful, proceeded, plundered, burned and de- 
stroyed almost everything that was valuable ; murdered several of 
the remaining inhabitants, and compelled most of the remainder to 
leave their settlement, nearly destitute of clothing, provisions, and 
the necessaries of life." William Gallap says : "We were not to 
be plundered, but the}' plundered us of everything. They kept us 
three or four days, and then told us to go. One hundred and eighty 
women and children, accompanied by only thirteen men, went to- 
gether. They suffered extremely, all on foot, bare-foot, bare- 
headed, in great want of provisions. Two women were delivered in 
the woods. Those of the men who had been in the battle made their 
escape before the fort surrendered, as the enemy said they would 
kill all who had been in the battle. The savages burnt all our im- 
provements ; scarcely a house left that was valuable. About two 
hundred men were then absent serving in the Continental army. 
The greater part of the men and women had fled east and down the 
river on the night of the massacre. Crossing the river at Forty 
Fort, they plunged into the wilderness and made their way to the 
mountains. Many fled on the night of the 4th. The number of the 
fugitives fleeing from the valley was about two thousand. The 
savages, finding they had fled, pursued them. Many were slain by 
the pursuing savages in their flight ; some died of excitement and 
fatigue, others of hunger and exposure, while many were lost who 
never found their way out. Hundreds were never seen again after 
they turned their backs on Wyoming. By what suffering and tor- 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 25 

ture the}- died, the world will never know. On their way was a long 
and dreary swamp to be traversed bj' them, which on account of the 
number who fled and perished in its mire and among its thorny 
brambles, was called T/ie Shades of Death .'" 

Before the massacre an appeal had been sent for the return of the 
Westmoreland companies, -who arrived only in time to meet the 
fugitives on the mountain and drive back the savages. They 
formed a rear guard for the retreat, and scattered themselves through 
the woods to pick up those who fell by the way. About three hun- 
dred perished in the massacre, and about two hundred more in the 
flight. { Jenkins. ) 

The dead remained unbuined until October 22. Having escorted 
the fugitives to Stroudsbnrg, the companies returned to the vallej^ 
and gathered up the bodies and buried them. On the 4th of July, 
1832, these remains were exhumed and buried on the spot selected 
for the monument. The number buried here was ninet3--six, of 
whom sixty were slain in battle, and thirtj'-six in the flight. Bodies 
found aftenvard were buried where they la\'. 

Man}- of the fugitives subsequently returned and re-occupied their 
devastated fields, but it was many years before prosperity again 
blessed the valley. 





•u1l«UM»t. m<>>i. 



tpol\i9(§ Bae^uyard from 1892 



An MI5T0R1QAL Sketch of tme WronrnQ Valley 



i:V W. H. Pl'TN'AM, PH. D. 



"The opinion which men entcrlain of antiquity is a very idle Uiiug, and ahiiost incon- 
gruous lo the word ; for the old age and length of days of the world should in reality be 
accounted antiquity, and ought lo be attributed to our' own times, not to the youth of the 
world which it enjoyed among the ancients ; for that age, though with respect to ns it l)c 
ancient and greater, yet with regard to the world it was new and less." — Bacon. 




T IS tlie purpo.se of this .sketch to give a general 
view, from an historical point, of the earlv con- 
*¥i dition of our valley- — a region made famous in 
song and stor}' — leaving the present evidences of 
i^ growth and prosperit}- to the other pages of this 
_ "" book, excepting when it is necessary to trace 
,?i _4j^a- results from causes connedled with the early his- 

tor}'. In doing this, it will be necessary to go out of 
the valley and trace to the original springs some of the 
streams which contribute to the great tide of wealth and culture 
which we find on every hand at the present day. 




28 I.OOKING BACKWARD. 

It is not proposed to give a full and complete liiston- within 
these few pages, but simply some of the glimpses which we catch 
standing on an eminence, which, for the sake of our own congratu- 
lation, we maj^ call the Twentieth Century. Two persons, one a 
naturalist, the other a poet, looking from the same eminence see 
different things. One sees the rodent or wild flower, the other 
sees the landscape in general; so with us all. We see those things 
most vividly in which we have the deepest interest. For this reason 
we hope to escape the critic's censure, if we have left out some of 
the material matter which goes to make up the history of our 
valley, the reader remembering that these are but sketches gath- 
ered hastily for a book of sketches. 

The history of Luzerne County is, in a great part, the histor}^ 
of the Wyoming Vallev. Luzerne, until recentl}', embraced what 
is now Lackawanna County, forming one of the eastern counties of 
the State, Wayne and Pike separating it from New York and New 
Jersey. On a granite block in the court-house 3-ard, at Wilkes- 
Barre, is marked latitude 41° 15' 37", longitude 75° 57' 10". The 
climate is much milder than many places of a more southerh' posi- 
tion. The valley is so sheltered b}^ mountain ranges as to keep off 
much of the cold, snow rarely remaining more than four da3-s at 
a time. This sedlion was originally embraced in what was known 
as Westmoreland, a territory embracing all of Northeastern Penn- 
sylvania, with Wilkes-Barre as a capital or judicial center. 

Ancient Mistort. 

-■^^HE early history of Northeastern Pennsylvania can only be 
gathered from the evidences which have been collected into 
cabinets. There is little doubt but that Northeastern Pennsyl- 
vania, embracing the Wyoming Valley, was once the home of a 
race of people who antedated the American Indian. The evidences 
consist of sepiilchral and other mounds, or tumuli. This race was 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 29 

evideutl}- different from the Indian. They carried the art of 
making utensils to a greater degree of perfection than the Indian. 

Most of tlie monnds have been so uearlj'' obliterated that it 
requires the praftical eye and good judgment of the archeeologist 
to trace their bearings. One of these earthworks, located in the 
township of Kingston, upon a level plain on the north side of 
Toby's creek, about one hundred and fifty feet from its bank, and 
about half a mile from its confluence with the vSusquehanna, could 
have been traced easiW at one time, but the mound having had no 
protection, has become a part of the common level. 

It was of an oval, or elliptical form, having its longest diameter 
from northwest to southeast at right angles to the creek, three 
hundred and thirty-seven feet, and its shorter diameter from the 
northeast to the soiithwest two hundred and seventy-two feet. On 
the southwest side seems to have been a gateway, about twelve 
feet wide, opening toward the great edd\' of the river into which 
the creek falls. It consisted probably of onl}^ one mound, or ram- 
part, which, in height and thickness, appears to have been the 
same on all sides. It was constructed of earth, the plain on which 
it was formed not abounding in stone. On the outside of the mound 
was a ditch. The creek on which it stood was bounded by an high, 
steep bank on that side, and at ordinary times is sufficiently deep 
to admit canoes to ascend from the river to the fortification. When 
the first settlers came to the Wyoming Valle}' this plain was cov- 
ered with native forest, consisting principally of oak and 3^ellow 
pine. The trees which grew on the mound and in the trench are 
said to have been as large as those in any other part of the valley. 
One large oak is said to have been seven hundred years old. 
The Indians have never left an}' tradition concerning these fortifi- 
cations, nor did tliej- ever make an}- use of them or have any 
knowledge of the purpose for which they were constructed. 

Another fortification existed on Jacob's Plain in the upper part 
of Wilkes-Barre. This one had the same general constrndliou. 
Huge trees were growing on this also. Seventy-five years ago 



30 LOOKING BACKWARD. 

these mounds could have been traced reasonably accurately. It 
would seem that the eaidy history of this valley presented the same 
evidences of a race of people who antedated the Indians, as is pre- 
sented by the country in portions of the Mississippi Valley and 
the Ohio Valley. This may have been the outskirts of that great 
and powerful civilization which had its center in Mexico and Cen- 
tral America. -This people ma}'' have been to that great civilization 
what the barbarian tribes of Europe were to the centers in Italy 
and Greece. These mounds are evidently the ruins of forts where 
the people went for refuge. Excavations have revealed buried 
beneath the surface rough angular stones of sizes convenient for 
hurling or assaulting foes, weapons and implements of stone, 
bone, and terra cotta; but rarely is a trace to be found of metallic 
weapons or tools — when such are found they are usuallv near the 
surface. 

These circumstances would seem to show that these works belong 
to great antiquity, a time prior to an}- knowledge of working in 
metals. 

The AnERlCAM lNblAM5. 

JT IS a matter but little beyond the memory of people still living 
that this valley was once the "camping ground" of many tribes. 
From the meager histor}^ at our command, it seems that besides 
the five or possibly six tribes of the famous Iroquois and the Sus- 
quehannocks who ruled this country south of the Blue Hills, there 
was yet another tribe known as the Candostogas. All of these 
nations were restless and warlike, but the Iroquois were by far the 
most enterprising. The Iroquois were the most warlike of all the 
North American tribes, but friendly to the New York settlements 
when they were attacked by the French. No sooner was this 
country explored by the white man than it became the object of 
his deep solicitude. One saw in it a place of trade, another desired 
to carry the gospel to the Indians. Others saw the beauty and 



THE WYOMING VAI^LEY. 31 

fertilit}- of the valley, and the result was that it soon became the 
subjedl of strife and contention. Trade was opened with the Indians 
of this valley as early as 1737, and in 1741 Rev. John Sergeant, of 
the Indian mission at Stockbridge, Massachusetts, came to Wyo- 
ming, accompanied b}- some Mohigans. His purpose was to preach 
the gospel to the nations. Sergeant did not meet with success. 
The Indians listened to his preaching, and received him kindly, 
but they had been told by the Senecas not to receive Christianity 
at the hands of the English. Several other Indian missionaries 
from Massachusetts came to this section to preach and teach the 
Indian. In 1753 a companj- was organized in Connedlicut to colo- 
nize the Wyoming Valle}'. This company sent a committee to look 
over the country. The committee reported favorabl}'. The next 
spring quite a large colony made preparations to settle this country. 
They were cautioned by the Governor that in all probability they 
would meet with hostile opposition on the part of the Indians. 

The CoMMECTicai People. 

-T^HE settlement of the Wyoming Vallej^ was for a number of 
years the only one in Luzerne Count3^ The people from 
Connecticut kept coming from 1753 along till 1770, by which time 
a considerable settlement might have been found within the valley. 
At this time no other settlement was nearer than sixty miles. 
These people were not the effeminate sons of wealthy parents, 
reared in the lap of luxur}-. They were indeed "sons of toil." 
From their infancy they had been taught, by precept and example, 
industr}- and economy, which had enabled their fathers to thrive 
among the rocks and hills of New England. They were the hardy, 
active sons of New Englanders, and in the exercise of the indepen- 
dent, self-reliant spirit which they had inherited from their sires, 
they left their parental roofs and sought homes in this valley, far 
awa}- in the untamed wilderness of what was then the West. A 



32 LOOKING BACKWARD. 

few brought with them their wives and children, and came with 
oxen and carts, bringing a few indispensable articles of household 
furniture and driving a few domestic animals. Most of them, 
however, came on foot with knapsacks on their backs, rifles on 
their shoulders, and axes in their hands. For a time they followed 
the trail of emigrants who had settled in other regions, but finally 
they abandoned this, left the borders of civilization, and struck into 
the forest. They followed Indian trails, wandered through forests 
and swamps, and climbed over mountains, camping in squads over 
night, till at length they reached this valley, and having sele6led 
their location, commenced the preparation for the future. The 
forests abounded in game, the streams in fish. They were sur- 
rounded by neighbors who were working with the same prospects, 
and with the same end in view. They "changed works" in order 
to accomplish some of their various tasks with greater facility, and 
to» dissipate the .=euse of loneliness which must have haunted them 
as they pursued their solitary labors. The natural result of all 
this labor and deprivation and sacrifice was a prosperous colony. 
Now as we talk with the old residents about the early history, they 
tell us of these thrilling scenes, and then point with pride to the 
grandeur of the valley, and say all this is the result of the sacri- 
fices of the early settlers. 

TliE iNblAM TK0aBLE5. 

■M'^HE Delawares, finally, commenced operations against the set- 
tlers, resulting in the massacre of about thirty of the Colonists. 
From that time on till the great massacre of 177S, there was a 
continual warfare between the Indians and the settlers. 

This noted massacre, known as the "Wyoming Massacre" of 
1 7 78, is one of the prominent events of American history. It took 
place near what is known as Sturmerville, one mile below West 
Pittston. The able-bodied men were in the service, it being the 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 33 

period of the Revolutionarj- War. The old men and bo}-s only 
were at home. For some mouths the settlers had imagined that 
the Indians were premeditating an attack. As a means of defense 
the settlers construdled Fort Forty. There are various reasons 
given for calling the fort "Fort}^ Fort"; some writers saj' because 
it was the fortieth along the river, reckoning from the source of the 
Susquehanna; but what is more probable, it was so named because 
the number forty was associated witli the township, forty persons 
constituting the number required by the charter that every town- 
ship should have. The latter part of June about four hundred 
Tories and about the same number of Seneca Indians colledled at 
the mouth of Bowman's creek. Here they were joined by more 
Senecas, probably two hundred more. From that place they de- 
scended upon the valley. The Tories were commanded b}' Major 
John Butler; Colonel Zebulou Butler of the Continental army. 
Colonel Deuison and Lieutent-Colonel Dorrance were leaders of 
the settlers. Fort Jenkins first fell into the hands of the enemy. 
This fort was situated about where tlie high school building stands 
in the village of West Pittston. The Jenkins burial ground near 
by still reminds us of that prominent family. This fort was about 
five miles from Fort}' Fort. When the settlers heard that Fort 
Jenkins had capitulated, they commenced a6live preparations of 
defense. The most of the women, old men, and children congre- 
gated in the fort called Forty Fort. Major John Butler demanded 
an immediate and unconditional surrender. Colonel Deuison 
being in sole command, waited until he could hear from Colonel 
Zebulou Butler, who was, at the time of the engagement, in Wilkes- 
Barre. When Colonel Butler arrived, he ordered from Wilkes- 
Barre two companies and also a few companies which had been 
situated in other places. He was determined to make the best of 
the situation, — how man}- forces the enemy had it was not possible 
to find out, though spies were sent out in all diredlions. 

The enemy finally came upon the settlers. B}- some mistake in 
the orders given by Colonel Deuison, there was complete confu- 



34 LOOKING BACKWARD. 

sion in the ranks of the settlers. The Indians and Tories taking- 
advantage of this condition of things, rushed in upon the settlers, 
and, as Steuben Jenkins, in his Centennial address, said: "The 
flight became slaughter, the slaughter became a massacre." -Such 
was the battle. It was impossible that the result of the battle 
should have been different. The enem\^ was three to one, and had 
the advantage of position. Our men fought bravely, but it was 
of no avail. Every captain fell at his post in the line and the men 
lay like sheaves of wheat after the reaper. 

Queen Esther's Rock, a large rock at the brow of the hill at the 
southeast of the village of W}^oming and a little more than a mile 
from the scene of the massacre, was itself the scene of a terrible 
horror. People come long distances to visit these points, as, to 
the student of history the fadls connected with them are of great 
interest. It was around this rock that Queen Esther, a savage 
character of still more savage followers held her war dance and put 
to death fourteen captives in the most inhuman and brutal manner. 
This rock ma}- now be seen as well as the site of the old fort. 

In the light of subsequent evidence, it is probable that the earh* 
writers emploj-ed the figure of hyperbole with telling effect when 
describing the part the Indians took in the earl}^ wars, the object 
being to bring England to see the barbarous character of their allies, 
and thereb}- lead them to desist from employing them. We see this 
exemplified w^hen writers to this day speak of the Boston massacre 
in a way to make the deepest impression. This is a realistic period. 
There is a demand for realism. We must not be surprised, there- 
fore, if some one makes the discovery that what was supposed to be 
blood stains on rocks, where onr earl}- settlers lost their lives, 'is 
nothing but red shale — that there realh- was no Queen Esther, or 
an}- Queen Esther's Rock. 

Histories generally agree that ]\Iajor Butler had no intention of 
employing the bloody pradlices of the Indians. One thing has led 
us to believe that not only did Major Butler know the savage 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 35 

intentions of the Indians, but employed them, and that tlie English 
at home made provision for the savage work of the Indians. 

In the possession of Dr. A. Knapp, of West Pittston, is a toma- 
hawk made of biass, and bearing an English manufafturer's mark. 
Evident!}- these tomahawks were sent in large quantities from 
England for the use of their allies. They could be used for no 
other purpose or in no other way than the prescribed purpose of 
the inhuman praAice of beating out brains. In our judgment this 
makes the English a party to one of the most inhuman pradlices 
that is known to history. 

The Tor}- soldiers remained in the valley during the summer. 
When winter came, the commander, finding himself unable to 
procure either supplies or recruits, discharged his men and aban- 
doned the valley. While the soldiers remained they were so 
oppressive and overbearing as to render their presence almost un- 
bearable. Several times during the summer there were open 
hostilities against the settlers. After the British left the valley 
the people were prosperous and happj- and the population rapidly 
increased by the influx of immigrants, not only to the valley but 
to the adjacent regions. 

The County of Luzerne was organized in 1786. Soon after the 
organization as a county, several adlions were commenced in the 
courts to determine the title to these lands. Several years elapsed 
before these complications were fully settled. 

Public Koad5. 

'*1"^HE first roads of this sedlion were mere trails, or Indian paths, 
which led through the woods. In 1779 a road from the Dela- 
ware river at Easton to the Susquehanna at W\-oming was opened 
for the passage of General vSuUivan's army. Improvements were 
afterwards made on this road, which was long known as Sullivan's 
Road. This was the main thoroughfare between this entire region 
and Philadelphia. 



36 LOOKING BACKWARD. 

The Coal Interests. 



O' 



kNE of the leading features of this vallev is tlie extensive coal 
miuiiig and coal trade. It lies within the great anthracite 
region of the Appalachian system. In Engle's History of Penn- 
sylvania, reference is made to coal in this valley as early as April 
17, 1763, when the Susquehanna Company granted lands in the 
valley reserving the coal. During the Revolutionary War coal 
was taken from this sedion to Carlisle for the forges of the United 
States army. It was quarried from the out-croppings near Wilkes- 
Barre and shipped in boats to Harris's Landing, and then by means 
of wagons it was hauled across to its destination. Some of the 
out-croppings on being explored have given evidences that they had 
been "worked" to some eN:tent in times long passed. There are 
good reasons for believing that coal long ago was used for fuel by 
the people who preceded the Indians, though we have no reason to 
believe that the}' used it in very large quantities. The fa6l that 
hollowed-out placed were overgrown with trees manj? hundred 3'ears 
old seems a conclusive proof. It took a good many years to dispel 
the idea that coal did not go below the surface, or below what could 
be seen. Recent mining enterprises have taken coal 1,500 feet 
below the surface. Earlier than 1820, there grew up a business 
which was confined to this se(5lion. In the winter season men were 
employed to dig out the coal from the out-croppings, others were 
employed in cutting timber to build what they called "arks" for 
floating the coal down the river. It would be sold at different 
points, and the men would return with comparatively large sunls 
of mone}^ These men have passed away, and their business has 
developed into the gigantic coal trade with its millions of dollars in 
mining propert}^ and its thousands of miles of railroad for convejdng 
the producft to market. But that class of men still claim their 
rights of recognition as pioneers in opening the coal trade earlier 
than 1820. The coal trade dates back even as far as 1807, when 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. ;,7 

coal was shipped to Havre-de-Grace and from there to other points. 
At this time coal sold as high as $8.50 a ton. It required some 
years of expensive experiment before it was known how to use it. 
Grates of various kinds were used before the right one was found. 
Even after several experiments of varying success, it required some 
persuasion to make the people believe that "stone" coal could be 
utilized as fuel. 

The story is told of Colonel George Shoemaker, of Pottsville, 
who loaded nine wagons with coal for Philadelphia. The most of it 
was sold to defray the expenses of the trip, and a portion finding 
no sale was given awa\". 

One man, after receiving gratuitously a load of coal from Colonel 
Shoemaker, had the Colonel arrested for swindling the people. A 
firm having purchased two loads, determined to tr}- every experi- 
ment in testing its qualities as a fuel. A number of men, having 
come together to make the test, placed a quantity in a furnace, and, 
as the stor\' goes, raked it and poked it and stirred it up and blew 
upon it from the open doors with perseverance and persistent deter- 
mination ; but all to no purpose : Colonel Shoemaker's rocks would 
not burn. Colonel Shoemaker was an imposter. Dinner-time 
arrived aud thev sliut up the doors of the furnace and went to 
dinner. Returning from dinner at the usual time, all were aston- 
ished to find the furnace red-hot and in danger of melting down. 
So hot a fire had never been seen in the furnace. From that time 
anthracite coal found plenty of friends in Philadelphia, aud the 
motto "let it alone" became the recipe for its use. We suppose 
Colonel Shoemaker was relea.sed on his own recognizance. It is 
said from that time it was never doubted that coal would make a 
good fuel. When stoves and furnaces finall}- were constructed with 
the proper draughts, the problem of stone coal fuel was solved. 

Referring to the use of coal in this valle}-, George B. Kulp has 
the following to say in a paper, entitled "Coal: its Antiquity, Dis- 
covery, and Early Development in the Wvoming \'alley": 

"We believe that from 1S03 anthracite coal was used for domestic 



38 LOOKING BACKWARD. 

purposes in this city. We have not before us the population of 
Wilkes-Barre at that time, but in 1820 she had a population of seven 
hundred and thirty-two. In 1803 the population probably did not 
exceed three hundred. These letters written to one of her citizens 
would excite comment, and would be talked over by the entire popu- 
lation, men, women and children. The social standard of her citi- 
zens at that time was perfect equalit}-. There were no ranks or 
grades. The apprentice, the laborer, the physician, the merchant 
and the lawyer were on speaking and visiting terms. As another 
writer has said, in speaking of the early history of coal : ' Such 
was the theme of universal rejoicing throughout the valley that the 
event was discussed at every fireside, the topic went with the people 
to church, and was diffused throughout the congregation at large by 
common consent ; it entered for a while into all conversations at 
home, it silenced every adverse criticism as it gave the signal for 
long and mutual congratulations '•' * '•' where friend and foe 
alike accjuiesced in the truth that W^'oming was freighted with in- 
finite fortune.' Coal up to this time had been mined by farmers 
and blacksmiths for their own use. In 1805 Abraham Williams, 
the pioneer miner, made his appearance in Federalist^ published at 
Wilkes-Barre, with the following advertisement : 

" 'The subscriber takes this method of informing the public that he under- 
stands miners' work. He has worked at it the greater part of twenty-three 
3'ears in the mines of Wales, one year and a half in Schuyler's copper mines in 
New Jersey, and three years in Ogden's in the same State. If anybody thinks 
there is any ore on his lands, or wants to sink wells, or blow rock or stones, he 
understands it, wet or dry, on the ground or under the ground. He will work 
by the day, or by the solid foot or yard, or by the job, at reasonable wages for 
country produce. 

■' ' He works cheap for country produce, 

But cash I think he won't refuse. 

Money is good for many uses, 

Despise me not nor take me scorn, 

Because I am a Welshman by my born. 

Now I am a true American, 

With every good to every man. 

Abraham Williams.' " 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 39 

Standing on almost any eminence near Wilkes-Barre or Pittston 
one ma\- count forty or fifty breakers within a radius of two miles. 
These breakers cost from fifty thousand to three hundred thousand 
dollars each. They emplo}^ from one hundred to two thousand 
men each. 

The Imflgence of the Coal Ba5mE55. 

— I'^HE coal business has brought a great many undesirable for- 
eigners to this part of the State. Tliis, of course, has an 
influence on societ}-. On the dockets of the courts are long lists 
of criminal case>. In the large towns society divides itself into 
classes and the lines are quite rigidly drawn. Many who owned 
small farms of one or two hundred acres were made millionaires 
b}' the value of the coal under the surface. In going from Pittston 
to Wilkes-Barre by railroad or by carriage one realizes how full of 
meaning are the words of Goldsmith, when he saj^s — 

"111 fares the land to hastening ills a prey, 
When wealth accumulates and men decay." 

Little or no account is au}- longer made of the beautiful rich 
bottom lands of the vallc}'. Occasionally a gardener will lease a 
farm, paying a small rent and reaping a correspondingl}- small 
income. 

In going back from the valley in any direction one comes to 
farm-houses at short intervals. The houses and out-buildings show 
that no very large sums of money are received for the 3'ear's work 
after the expenses are paid. The country is hilly, even mountain- 
ous, and the opportunities for a large income are limited. Lum- 
bering to some extent has been carried on, but not to as great an 
extent as upon the upper waters of the West branch of the Susque- 
hanna. Many of the people are of that sturdy Pennsylvania Dutch 
class, who work and save from generation to generation, living the 
idea, "what was good enough for me is good enough for ni}- bo}^" 



40 LOOKING BACKWARD. 

In many instances the boys leave home for the purpose of attending- 
school and never return to the old homestead to live; thej^ find 
employment in the large cities or in some of the cities of the valley 
or go to the great West. In the more thickly settled portion of 
the county ma}- be found all those evidences of intelligence and 
thrift that are found in New England. Excellent school buildings, 
many large public libraries, an excellent school system, all go to 
show that in these later daj-s the people are beginning to realize 
that there is more than one way to invest a dollar in order to make 
the most of it. 

It is but just to say, however, that from these homes which con- 
tributed very little to the development of the young, there have 
come many who have pushed their way to success in spite of dis- 
couragement ; and those who met with the most discouragement 
have often been those who have gained the most distinction. 
During the half century which followed the settlement of this 
county, agriculture was the chief employment. A few hunters and 
trappers might have been found who followed the game over the 
mountains and along the river. The existence of the vast mineral 
wealth was not then known. The farmer, as he followed the plough, 
over the fields, or as he scattered the seed broad-cast, or as he gath- 
ered his harvest, little thought of the vast rich deposit which la}- 
beneath the surface. The farmers of those days were a thrifty class 
of men, and their descendants have been some of the leading busi- 
ness men during these later 3'ears. The man who has become 
most noted in political circles from this countv is the Honorable 
Henry M. Hoyt. He was four j^ears in the Civil War. He was 
promoted from Lieutenant-Colonel, and then promoted to Brigadier- 
General. He was afterwards elected Governor of the State, and 
now resides in Wilkes-Barre. 

From Kulp's "Families of W3'oming" we take the following,, 
showing what the Bar of Luzerne has contributed to history : 

"Of the ten President Judges eight are dead and two (Judges 
Harding and Rice) are still living. Of the six Additional Law 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 41 

Judges only one is dead and five are living. The only separate 
Orphans' Court Judge we have had is still in service. Of the 
ihirtj-'five La\- Judges but two survive, thirt^'-three having been 
called to that higher Court from whose decrees there is no appeal. 
The total of judges and lawyers, dead and living, is five hundred 
and thirt3--nine, and since 1881, when the work of compiling the 
book began, fift}- have passed awaj'. 

"Nine Luzerne lawyers have abandoned the profession to take 
places in the pulpit. Of these, four became Episcopal ministers, 
one rising to the Bishopric, three preached in the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, one in the Presbyterian and one in the Baptist. 
Popular prejudice will stand surprised to find that a calling, the 
praftices of which are so persistently ascribed to Satanic influences, 
has contributed thus liberally to the noble army marshalled for the 
overthrow of his alleged patron. 

"To the armies of the country the Luzerne Bar has given more 
than her quota. She had two soldiers in the Revolution, two in the 
Mexican War. To the forces whose energies won in the Civil War 
of 1861-65, she contributed five Generals, three Colonels, one Lieut- 
enant-Colonel, three Majors, twelve Captains, ten Lieutenants, and 
twenty-three Privates, while three others served in the navy. 

"In high civic offices she has had one United States Senator, six- 
teen Congressmen, two Governors, two Attorney-Generals, one Min- 
ister in the Diplomatic Service, four Judges of the Supreme Court, 
two Judges of the United States Court, and eleven Judges of Common 
Pleas Courts in other counties or States, in addition to ten Law 
Judges she has furnished our own bench." 

The educational history of Luzerne County commences with the 
arrival of the immigrants from Connecticut. To say that the people 
originally came from Connecticut, is a sufficient guarantee that a 
deep interest was taken in educational affairs. It was the original 
intention that a sufficient quantity of land should be set apart for 
school purposes to insure the support of the schools without taxa- 
tion. The matter of taxing the people for school purposes was 



42 LOOKING BACKWARD. 

here, as well as in many other places, a serious question. In the 
early historj- a scheme to support public schools by taxation com- 
pletely failed. There were manj' private schools in Wilkes-Barre 
and vicinity. These were taught by New England teachers. In 
1844, Reubeu Nelson came from Otsego county. New York, to 
Kingston and founded W3^oming Seminary. He was a strong 
teacher. Dr. Nelson was afterwards elected one of the agents of the 
Methodist Book Concern, becoming a member of the firm of Nelson 
& Phillips, publishers. 

Many of the prominent people of this valley, aud especially of 
Wilkcs-Barre, are descended from the families who were prominent 
in the early daj's. The Ross family descended from General Wil- 
liam Ross; the Hollenbacks, tracing their ancestry with pride to 
Colonel Hollenback, so well known throughout all the northern 
part of the State ; the Butlers from General Zebulon Butler. 

History' has been likened to a grand dissolving view. While 
one age is passing another is coming into prominence. 

This is an age of motors, an industrial age. A solidarity of com- 
mercial interests within the last few years has been established. 
Who can tell what the next century and a quarter will bring forth 
tons as a nation? What to the Wyoming Valley? Let us hope 
for an epoch of intellectual and moral power — one that will har- 
monize and assimilate the different elements which are coming to 
us from foreign lands. 




"""^^^^je^P^ 




■VltlUMkr. MlHI 



I^epreseptatiue /T^e^ of t\)2 l/alley 



CHARLES DORRANCE 

Was born January 4, 1805, at the old homestead, between Kingston and Forty 
Fort, Luzerne county, where he has spent his life. His father, Benjamin Dor- 
rance, was Sheriff of Luzerne county, County Commissioner, member of the 
Legislature, and the first President of the Wyoming Bank. Lieutenant-Colonel 
George Dorrance played a prominent part in the massacre of Wyoming and the 
early history of the valle^'. Colonel Dorrance, as he was called, was for many 
years the President of the Wyoming Bank, President of the Wilkes-Barre Bridge 
Company, one of the first members of the Wyoming Historical and Geological 
Society, President of the Luzerne Agricultural Societj-, &c. Mr. Dorrance 
-died January iS, 1892. 

ABRAM NESBITT 

Was born in Plymouth township. His great grandfather was one of the forty 
claimants that came from Connetticut in 1769; his son, Abram, was Mr. Nes- 
bitt's grandfather. Mr. Nesbitt's father's name was James. He served in the 
Legislature in the winter of 1835-36; served as Judge and Districft Attorney: 
was Sheriff of the countj'. He died in 1840. 

The subjedl of this sketch was educated at the Dana Academy, in Wilkes- 
Barre, and at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pennsylvania. He began life 
as a surveyor; was one of the organizers of the Second National Bank, in 1863; 
was elecfted Vice-President, 1S72, and President, 1878. He is Director of the 
Wyoming Valley Coal Company and Diredlor of the Irvona Coal Company, in 
Clearfield; Treasurer and Secretary of Forty Fort Cemetery; Diredtor of the 
Poor for several years; Treasurer of the Sanson Cutlery Company: one of the 



44 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

organizers of the Spring Brook Water Company, one of the largest in tlie State, 
and the People's Water Company of Pittston, Pennsylvania. 

Hon. EDMUND L. DANA 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1817. Prepared for 
college in the Wilkes-Barre Academy, and graduated from Yale College in 1838; 
engaged in civil engineering, and in 1839 entered the law office of Hon. Luther 
Kidder; was admitted to the Luzerne Bar in i84r. Entered the office of the 
Hon. George Woodward and took charge of his pradlice successfully during the 
time Judge Woodward was filling his appointment of Chief Justice of Pennsyl- 
vania. Judge Dana served in the Mexican War and in the Rebellion with dis- 
tindtion. He commanded the 143d Penns}lvania \'oluiiteers in the Rebellion, 
and was brevetted Brigadier-General; was elected Additional Law Judge of the 
Eleventh Judicial Distridl of Pennsylvania, and took his seat, 1867, and served 
ten years; was Correspondent-Secretary of the Wyoming Historical Society and 
its first President. Judge Dana died in 18S9. He descended from one of the 
greate.st families in the United States. 

DANIEL EDWARDS, 

vSon of William and Mary Edwards, was born in Eglwysillen, Wales, April 28, 
1825; came to America in 1851, and finally settled in Danville, Pennsylvania; 
married January 17, 1862, Margaret, daughter of Thomas and Anna Edwards, a 
native of Merthyr Tydvil, Wales. Mr. Edwards early in life became associated 
with the extensive coal and iron concern of Waterman & Beaver, finally merged 
into the Montour Iron and Steel Company, and the Kingston Coal Company. 
The Gaylord Coal Company also was one of Mr. Edwards' organization; this 
Company, too, was finally absorbed by the Kingston Coal Company, which is 
to-day the largest individual coal operating Company in the Wyoming Valley. 
Mr. Edwards, by pluck, energy, tadl, and perseverance, coupled with sound 
judgment and economical management, made the wonderful stride that has, in 
less than thirty years, made out of a sound, practical miner a President and 
General Manager of one of the largest industrial, individual concerns in our 
State. Mr. Edwards, while avoiding political preferment, has been a strong- 
fadlor in all the political campaigns of the past ten years, and his influence has 
been felt in the advancement of political economy. In 1884 Mr. Edwards was 
one of the Presidential eledlors, which college carried the Keystone State for 
James G. Blaine and John A. Logan with over 80,000 majority. At this writing. 



THK WYOMING VALLEY. 45 

March, 1892, Mr. Edwards, although in his sixty-sixth year, is general head of 
the Kingston Coal Company and Edwards & Company, the management of 
which he controls, leaving only the detail for efficient superintendents. The 
Kingston Coal Company mine somewhere about a million and a half tons of 
anthracite coal per year, while Edwards & Company conduct one of the largest 
mercantile businesses in Eastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Edwards visited his old 
home in Wales some three years ago, and many of his friends were of the opinion 
that it portended a removal to end a well-spent life at the place of its beginning; 
if such a thing was ever thought of by Mr. Edwards, he gave no sign, hence 
•we conclude that the home of his adoption has become his best love. 

ANDREW T. McCLINTOCK, Esq., 

Was born in Northumberland, of this State, February 2, 1810. Educated in 
the public schools of that place and Kenyon College, Ohio; began his law 
studies with James Hefburn and completed them under the Hon. George Wood- 
ward; was admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1836, and became a partner of the 
latter; was appointed Districl Attorney in 1839. As Diredlor of the Wyoming 
National Bank and President of Hollenback Cemetery Association, Diredlor of 
Wilkes-Barre Hospital, President of the Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Asso- 
ciation, member of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, Elder in 
the Presbyterian Church, he has served his generation. In 1870 Princeton 
College conferred upon him the degree of LLD. He was the oldest member of 
the Luzerne Bar in active practice at the time of his death. His clientage 
includes manj- of our large corporations. He died January i. 1892. 

W. S. PARSONS 

"Was born in Lenox, Massachusetts. In early life removed to Bucks county, 
Pennsylvania. Graduated at Lafayette College in 1844, at Princeton Seminary 
in 1850. Spent several years in Western New York. In 1856 settled in Wilkes- 
Barre, where he engaged in teaching till 1872, when health failed him. Was 
elecfted Alderman in the spring of that year, and has continued in that office till 
the present time. 

WILLIAM WALLACE LOOMIS 

"Was born in Lebanon, Connedlicut, July 14, 181 5. At an earh- age he came 
with his parents to Northmoreland. Wyoming count>-, and to Wilkes-Barre in 
the autumn of 1827. With the exception of N. Rutter, who came to Wilkes- 



46 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

Barre a year or two before, Mr. Loomis is the oldest resident of Wilkes- Barre. 
He was Burgess from 1855 to 1863, and Mayor from 1877 to 1881. In 1862 he 
was appointed by President Lincoln Elecftion Commissioner of Pennsylvania, 
and visited the Union armies and lield ele<5lions for President. Mr. Loomis has 
adlively been engaged in the harness and saddlery hardware business for fort\- 
years, and when his present brick store on West Market street was eredted, it 
vi^as judged one of the finest and towered highest of any business house in the 
citv. Mr. Loomis is so well known and highly respedled that further comment 
would be superfluous. 

BENJAMIN GARDNER CARPENTER 

Was born at Plains, July 2, 1827. In 1848 he became a partner of Theron 
Burnet in a store near where the Osterhont building now stands. The firm 
moved to North Franklin street, and from there to West Market street, and 
finally to the opposite side of the street, No. 57. Mr. Carpenter bought out Mr. 
Burnet and took in Mr. Emery. In 1873 they built the building now occupied 
by the firm. Mr. Carpenter purchased Mr. Emery's interest and took in A. H. 
Mulford and Frank Densmore. At Mr. Mulford's death, in 1S75, Walter S. 
Carpenter, the eldest son of Mr. Carpenter, was taken in partnership. Mr. 
Carpenter was a Trustee of Wyoming Seminary and President of the Wilkes- 
Parre Water Company. He died November 11, i88g. 

F. V. ROCKAFELLOW 

Was born at Somerville, New Jersey. He began life as a clerk, and is now the 
adlive head of one of the most prosperous and solid banking institutions in this 
sedlion. Has served the cit}' as Treasurer ever since it became a city. He 
learned banking with C. B. Drake and was employed in Bennett's and Phelps's 
banking-house. 

ROCKAFELLOW BANKING COMPANY. 

This Bank was organized and the building built by A. H. Emley. In 1886 
Mr. Rockafellow became a partner, and at l\Ir. Emley's death became the firm. 
This is the only private banking-house in the city. 

WILLIAM ROSS MAFFET 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania, March 29, 1817, and at the time of 
his death was supposed to have been the oldest native of that city. Mr. Maffet's 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 47 

father, Samuel, was a prominent citizen of Wilkes-Barre. His mother was a 
daughter of General William Ross, of the Continental army. Mr. Maffet's life- 
time is identified with the progress and development of the city, and as a Civil 
Engineer he was connedled with the improvements in this sedtion. He was the 
originator of the Coalville Street Ra'hvay. He was also a successful coal opera- 
tor. Died January 14, 1890. 

CHARLES FARMER INGHAM 

Was born of Ivnglish parents in Dublin, 1810, and came to the valley in 1823. 
He began life as a clerk; later taught school in the old Wilkes-Barre Academy, 
on the public square of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania ; attended leiftures at the 
University of Pennsylvania; became a Civil Engineer; helped construcfl the 
North Branch Canal; surveyed for the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company 
the famous Switchback at Mauch Chunk, and was employed by most of the 
large corporations in this part of the State. He assisted in the ere(5lion of Fort 
Sumter. The sewer system of this city was diredted by him. The Geological 
and Historical Societies owe as much of their prosperity to him as any other 
man. Died January 18, 1890. 

EDWARD P. DARLING, Esq., 

Born in Berks county, November 10, 1831. Educated at the New London Cross 
Roads Academy, and graduated from Amherst College in 1851; admitted to the 
Reading Bar in 1853 and to the Luzerne Bar in 1855. Died 1889. Mr. Darling 
was one of the foremost lawyers in Northeastern Pennsylvania. He was a 
partner with F. V. Rockafellow in banking, and Vice-President of the Wyoming 
National Bank, Miners' .Savings Bank, and many other important offices. 

WILLIAM PENN MINER 

Was for many years the leading journalist in Wilkes-Barre and was the founder 
oi ihe Record of the Times. He retired from acflive newspaper pursuits in 1876, 
since which time he has lived in quiet retirement on the ancestral farm at 
Miner's Mills, engaged in pastoral and literary pursuits. Mr. Miner is the son 
of the late Charles Miner, distinguished as a statesman, journalist and historian. 
Charles Miner was a pioneer in Wyoming, having come here in 1799 from Con- 
necflicut. He was associated here with his brother, Asher, in publishing the 
Federadst. In 18 16 he sold out and went to West Chester, where he founded 
the Village Record. He served in the Legislature and in Congress. William P. 



48 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

Miner was educated for the law, and was admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1841, 
he afterwards being eledled Prothonotary and Clerk of the Courts on the Whig 
ticket. In 1853 he founded the Record of the Times, which he successfully con- 
dudled for more than a score of years. In 1873 he launched the daily edition 
of the Record aiudi condudled it in person until its sale to a local syndicate, which 
in 18S3 sold to the present proprietors. Messrs. Johnson & Powell. Mr. Miner 
has been a life-long protecftionist and his terse utterances on that subjedl grace 
the columns of the Record from time to time. He is also fond of historical 
research. His son, William B. Miner, conducts a newspaper in Wi.sconsin. 

Rev. H. H. WELLES, 

Born at Wyalusing, September 15, 1824. Son of Charles F. and Ellen Hollen- 
back Welles. Graduated at the College of New Jersey at Princeton, class of 
1844. Two years' study in Princeton Theological Seminary; licensed to preach 
by Presbytery of Susquehanna August 2.,, 1850; began supplying Kingston 
Presbyterian Church December i, 1850, and was ordained and installed its 
pastor June 12, 1851; resigned from the pastorate in April, 1871. Has since 
a died as stated supply for various churches in the Presbytery of Lackawanna, of 
which he was the first Stated Clerk. Married, Odlober 12, 1849, Ellen S., 
daughter of General Samuel G. Ladd, of Hallowell, Maine. Has been Presi- 
dent of the Alumni Association of Princeton Theological Seminary, and is 
Trustee of Lincoln University. Resides at Forty Fort. 

CHARLES MORGAN 

Was born near Philadelphia in 18 14, and came to Wilkes-Barre in 1839. In 
1843 he entered into business with Elijah Kline, under the name of Kline & 
Morgan. They ran very successfully one of the numerous large shops of this 
locality engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. This was before 
raachinery was introduced in the business, and all goods were made to the 
measure of the wearer. After the death of Mr. Kline, the business was con- 
dudled by Mr. Morgan, he having introduced the first machine-made goods ever 
brought to Wilkes-Barre. Since then the business has been radically changed, 
and now the shops so famous in the manufadlure of hand-made boots and shoes 
are no more, but in their places are the modern shoe stores with plate-glass 
fronts with large stocks of machine and hand-made goods, brought by railroad 
from the manufadluring centers. Mr. Morgan brought his first ready-made 



THE WYOMING \' ALLEY. 49 

boots and shoes from New Jersey by team, afterwards by canal, and later by 
railroad. Mr. Morgan's sons. J. T. and W. P., succeeded liini in the year 1876. 

REUBEN JAY FLICK. 

Mr. Flick was born at Flicksville, Pennsylvania, July 10, 1816. He came to 
Wilkes-Barre in 1838, and engaged in mercantile trade. In 1870 he organized 
the People's Bank and was its active President until 1871. when the increasing 
cares of his many other interests compelled his resignation. Mr. Flick's ability, 
energy and integrity brougjit him success in all his undertakings and made him 
one of the most eminent and respected citizens of Wilkes-Barre. He was an in- 
corporator of many of her leading industries and charitable institutions and their 
prominence and present success are largely due to his personal interest and 
business abilit\-. At the time of his death, which occurred December 18, 1890, 
-Mr. Flick was a Director of the Wilkes-Barre Lace Compan\-, Yulcan Iron 
Works, Electric Light Company, Wilkes-Barre Street Car and Iron Bridge 
Companies, Wyoming \*ailey Ice Company and others, and was a Trustee of the 
Home for Friendless, the City Hospital, the Female Institute of W'ilkes-Barre, 
and of Lincoln University of Oxford, Pennsylvania. 

JOHN C. PHELPS. 

Born in Granby, Connecticut, April 20, 1825. Emigrated with parents to 
Pennsylvania in 1827. Educated at the public schools of Dundaff, Luzerne 
county. Pennsylvania, and at Harford Academy. Emigrated to New York at 
nineteen years of age. where he served as clerk in a wholesale grocerj' store for 
four \-ears, afterwards becoming a partner. Having been engaged in the whole- 
sale grocerj- and hardware business, as a banker, and conuedled with several 
corporations as president, vice-president, secretar}' and treasurer, with man}- 
others as director — notably as Vice-President Lackawanna and Bloomsburg, 
President Dickson Manufacturing Company and Nanticoke Coal and Iron Com- 
pany, Steuben Coal Company, Granby Coal Company. Wilkes-Barre Gas Com- 
pany; Director of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, 
Parrish Coal Company, Armora Coal Company, as well as other corporations of 
this and other States. 

Rev. DAVID COPELAND, D. D., 

Principal of Wyoming Seminary, Kingston. Pennsylvania, from 1872 to 1882, 
was born in Braintree, \'ermont, December 21. 1832, and was graduated from 



50 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

the Wesleyan University in 1855. In the same year he was engaged as Princi- 
pal of the Monroe Academy, Henrietta, New York, and in 1866 as teacher of 
natural science and mathematics in Falley Seminary, Fulton, New York. He 
joined the Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1858, and 
was in the same j'ear appointed Principal of the Springfield Academy, now 
Griffith Institute, New York. In 1865 he was transferred to the Cincinnati 
Conference, and was appointed President of the Hillsborough Female College, 
Ohio. In 1872 was appointed Principal of Wyoming Seminary, Kingston. 
Died, 1882, in Vermont. 

Rev. REUBEN NELSON, D. D., 

Was born at Andes, New York, December 13, 1818. Studied at Hartwick 
Seminary. Received the Degree of Master of Arts at Union College, and that 
of Dodlor of Divinity at Dickinson College. Entered the Oneida Annual Con- 
ference in 1838; later Principal of Otsego Academy at Cooperstown, New York. 
In 1 844 founded the Wyoming Conference Seminary at Kingston, Pennsylvania, 
and was its Principal for twenty-eight years. In 1872 was elected Book Agent 
of New York for the Methodist Book Concern. Dr. Nelson was twice eledled 
Presiding Elder, and served as Treasurer of the Missionary Society of the Meth- 
odist Church. Delegate several times to the General Conference of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. Died in 1879. 

R. D. LACOE 

Is a resident of Pittston, and has been engaged in the coal business for many 
years. He is a scientific man and one of the leading authorities on fossil plants 
and insedls, and has one of the finest and largest colledlions of fossil plants, &c., 
in the United States. This colledlion has been donated by Mr. Lacoe to the 
Smithsonian Institute. 

Hon. GEORGE WASHINGTON WOODWARD, 

Born March 26, 1809, in Bethany, Pennsylvania. Was educated at Geneva 
Seminary and Hobart College, Geneva, New York, and at the Wilkes-Barre 
Academy. Studied law with Hon. Garrick Mallery at Wilkes-Barre. He was 
admitted to the Bar August 3, 1830. Married .Sarah Elizabeth Trott. In 183& 
was a delegate to reform the Constitution of the State. In 1841 he was ap- 
pointed President Judge of the Fourth Judicial District. Was a candidate for 
the United States Senate in 1844. In 1852 was appointed Judge of the Supreme 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 51 

Court of Pennsylvania; the same \-ear he was elecfled for a term of fifteen years. 
In 1S63 was candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania, but was defeated. In 
1867 and >868 he was eledled to represent the Twelfth Distridl in the Fortieth 
and Forty-First Congress. In 1873 he was eledled Delegate-at-Large to the last 
Constitutional Convention on the Democratic ticket. He died at Rome, Italy, 
May ID, 1876. 

Hon. LAZARUS D. SHOEMAKER 

Was born in Kingston, Pennsylvania, November 5, 1819. His father was Elijah 
Shoemaker. Educated at the Moravian School, Nazareth Hall, Bethlehem; at- 
tended Kenyon College, Ohio; graduated from Yale College with honors, 1840. 
Studied law with General E. W. Sturdevant, and was admitted to the Luzerne 
Bar in 1842. Eledled State Senator in 1866, and Representative in the Twelfth 
Congressional Distridl in 1870, and served two terms. Diredtor of the Wyoming 
Insurance Companj'; President of the Wyoming Valle)- Manufadluring Com- 
pany; President of the Board of Trustees of the Franklin Street Methodist Epis- 
copal Church; Diredlor of the Crj'stal Spring Water Company, and member of 
the School Board and Town Council at various times. Mr. Shoemaker is a 
representative member of a representative family of our valley. 

ABRAM H. REYNOLDS, 

Was born in Plymouth, July 14, 1819. He was a son of Benjamin Reynolds. 
Was married to Miss Elizabeth Hoyt, daughter of Ziba Hoyt, in 1S62. Re- 
ceived his education at the public schools of Plymouth and Dickinson College. 
He early in life engaged in the mercantile business in Ph-mouth and Kingston. 
He became identified with his brother, William C. Reynolds, in the construction 
of the Lackawanna and Bloomsburg Railroad. He held the office of Secretary 
and Treasurer of the road until it passed into the hands of the Delaware, Lacka- 
wanna and Western Railroad; subsequently he was principally engaged in the 
coal business up to the time of his death, which occurred December 4, 1S90. 
He is survived by his wife, his two sons and one daughter. He was a man of 
genial and happy disposition, and was honored and respedled by all who knew 
him. 

Dr. EDWARD R. MAYOR 

Was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 18, 1823. He graduated from 
the classical department of the University of Pennsylvania at the age of 



52 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

eighteen, and three years later took the degree of Doctor of Medicine in the 
same institution. Practiced medicine in Philadelphia. He came to vVilkes- 
Barre, Pennsylvania, in 1856. During the \\'ar he raised a company of soldiers 
and went to the front. He went to Europe in 1882. One of the founders of the 
Wilkes-Barre Ho.spital and of the Training School for Nurses. Was one of the 
leading physicians of the State. He had fine literary taste and was a fluent 
writer. He died August 17, 1S91. 

RICHARD SHARP, 

An old and influential resident of the \'alley. Director of the First National 
Bank, President of the Alden Coal Company, President of the Wyoming Manu- 
facfluring Company. 

Hox. HUBBARD B. PAYNE, 

Born at Kingston, Pennsylvania, July 28, 1S39. Bester Payne, his father, dead; 
Polly Payne, his mother, living. Prepared for College at Wyoming Seminary, 
at Kingston. At eighteen years of age entered Wesleyan University, Middle- 
town, Conne(5ticut. In college four jears, taking full classical course, and in 
1861 he graduated. In college took an active part in Society work. He was a 
member of the Philoshetorian, a public society, and of Psi Upsilon, a secret 
society, being sent by the latter as delegate to the Annual Convention, which 
met at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, in August, i860. He 
was, upon graduation, chosen a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. In 
Augu.st, 1861, he entered the oiSce of Hon. Charles Deni.son (afterward member 
of Congress for three terms) as a student of law. Was admitted to the Bar from 
the same office, August 20, 1863. Has been practicing law ever since. Has 
alwaj^s been in politics an active and decided Republican. In 1874 he was 
elected, and afterwards served two years. State Senator. In 1876 he was can- 
didate for Congress, and in 1880 was also candidate for Additional L,aw Judge, 
but was defeated. Each time he was a candidate he was nominated without 
opposition, but by acclamation. When defeated it was when his party was also 
defeated. He was from 1867 to 1880 adtive as a Free Mason, being Distridl 
Deputy Grand Master, 1876 to 18S0. He belongs to Lodge No. 61, Master 
Masons' Lodge at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and is a Knight Templar in 
degree. He took an adlive part in Church work, being eledled Superintendent 
of the Sunday School of the Presbyterian Church at Kingston, September. 1861, 
and continued such more than twenty-one years. He was, in same Church, 
Trustee more than fifteen years, and Ruling Elder more than thirteen years. 



THH WYOMING \"ALLKY. 53 

At present he is President of Trustees of Osterhout Free Library. He lias had 
four children — one daughter anil three boys. His wife, formerly Miss Libbie 
Lee Smith, and three children are now living. His oldest son, Charles B., was 
accidentally kille<l in October, 1876. 

Hon. CHARLES A. MINER 

Was born in Plains township, Pennsylvania, in 18.^0. Son of R(jbert Miner; 
educated in Wilkes-Barre and West Chester. Mr. Miner is widely known in 
the business and political interests of this section. He .served three terms in 
the Pennsyh-ania House of Representatives; represented the State as Honorary 
Commissioner at the World's Exhibition at Vienna, Austria: President of the 
Street Railway Company, Diredlor of the Wyoming National Bank and People's 
Bank, member <jf the City Council, owner of Miner's Mills. 

Hon. C. D. FOSTER 

Was born in Dallas, Pennsylvania, November 25, 1836. Son of Phineas Nash 
Foster, a prominent Justice of the Peace. After attending Wyoming Seminary 
for three years and a school in Illinois, he studied law with Lyman Hakes, 
E.sq., and was admitted to the Luzenie Bar in April 23, 1861. Mr. Foster was 
a member of the Legislature in 18S4 and T885; Delegate of the National Repub- 
lican Convention at New York in 1S8S; Delegate to State Convention in 1889 
and 1890. Was beaten by Ganeral Osborne for nomination to Congress by 
twenty votes in 1S87. 

Dr. I). J. J. MASON 

Was born in Monmouthshire, Wales, in 1855. His musical instruclion began 
when he was quite young, under his father. When he was ten he spent a great 
deal of his time under Gwilj'm Gwent. In 1869 he came to this country and 
went to Ashland, Schuylkill county, where he remained six months, singing in 
his father's choir at an eisteddfod wliich was held there during Christmas. 
Afterward he came with his parents to Parsons, where they made their home. 
In 1S72 he went to Mount Pleasant Seminary, Boyerstown, Berks county, where 
he studied and afterwards taught vocal and instrumental music. From there lie 
went to Dan\ille and studied under Dr. Joseph Parry, subsequently becoming 
his assistant, and when Dr. Parry went to Wales to accept the professorship in 
the University of Music young Mason took his position in Danville, when he 



54 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

also became organist of the Grove vStreet Presbyterian Church. During his stay 
in Danville he took a prize for a composition at Cincinnati. In 1S75, in Scran- 
ton, he defeated Gwilyni Gwent and .some of the compo.sers of Wales. This 
composition was published. In 1876 he came to Wilkes-Barre, and in the early 
part of 1877 the Mendelssohn Society was organized and he became its leader. 
The Society produced some of the Oratorios; was in existence until he went to 
Europe, in 1882, previous to which he was organist of the Memorial Church 
and subsequently of the First Presbyterian Church. In Europe he went to the 
Ro3-al Academy of Music for four years and was a pupil of Duvivies, Holland, 
Fitten, Wood, Davenport and McFannen, taking nuisic, classics and the sciences. 
He took his degree of Mus. Bach, in Trinity Callege, Dublin, and returned to 
this country in July, 1886. Two years later he was granted the Degree of 
Doctor of Music in Toronto, Canada, on the strength of his compositions. In 
the fall of 1886 the Oratorio {society was organized, and he was made Direcftor. 
Under his direction about forty oratoric performances have been given, most of 
them with full orchestra and excellent soloists. Until recently he was Diredtor 
of the famous Welsh Baptist Choir of Scranton, two hundred voices. At present 
he is Diredlor of the Oratorio and Clara Schumann Societies, Diredor and 
Organist of the Franklin Street Methodist Epi.scopal Church choir, and Director 
of St. Dominic's choir. Parsons. He has composed a great deal of music, much 
of which is still in manuscript. Two elaborate choruses of an Oratorio of his 
were published three years ago, and competed for in the one thousand dollar 
prize at the Armory. The Sacred Cantata "O Be Joyful in God" was pub- 
lished about a year ago. His quintet, one of the numbers of this work, was 
in competition in Scranton last year. He is at present working on a Grand 
Opera, "The Maid of Cefnydva," which is expeifted to be brought out at the 
World's Fair Exposition in Chicago. Professor Daniel Protheroe was a pupil 
of his from the fall of 1888 to September, 1889, during which time he passed his 
first and second examination of Mus. Bach, and prepared the Cantata for the 
same. Other pupils of his were Thomas J. Davis, Miss Lizzie Parry James, 
Professor David Miles and Professor D. W. Herbert. 

GEORGE S. BENNETT 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1842. Graduated from 
Wesleyan University in 1864. In 1864 went into the banking 1 usiness with his 
father, Ziba Bennett, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Has been Diredtor of the 
Wyoming National Bank and Secretary of the Board of Directors, member of 
the banking firm of Bennett, Phelps & Co., member of Town Council, Manager 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 55 

of the Wilkes-Barre Bridge Conipanj\ Manager of Wilkes-Barre Hospital, Presi- 
dent of the Young Men's Christian Association, Trustee of Wyoming Seminary, 
Superintendent of the Sunday School of the First Methodist Episcopal Church 
and a member of that Church, Manager of the Hollenback Cemetery Association, 
member of the School Board and Secretary of the Luzerne County Bible Society, 
President of the Lace Works, Treasurer of the Sheldon Axle Company, Trustee 
of Wesleyan University, Middleton Connedlicut, ard of Drew Theological Semi- 
nary, Madison, New Jersey; President of the Board of Trustees of Wyoming 
Seminary. After his education was completed, Mr. Bennett traveled in Europe. 
Married Ellen W. Nelson, daughter of Rev. Reuben Nelson, D. D., of Kingston, 
Pennsylvania. 

HENRY A. FULLER, Esq., 

Born at Wilkes-Barre, January 15, 1855. Educated in public school of that 
place; entered Princeton College, 1871; graduated 1874; read law in the ofSce 
of Hon. H. W. Palmer, and admitted to the Bar of Luzerne county, January, 
1S77, where he has since been in aclive practice. Married November, 1879, to 
Miss Ruth H. Parrish. Was Assistant Districl Attorney nine years; Trustee ot 
Osterhout Free Library; Director of Anthracite Savings Bank; Superintendent 
of St. Stephen's Episcopal Sunday School. 

Hox. EDWIN S. OSBORNE 

Was born in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, August 7, 1839. Graduated from 
the University- of Northern Pennsylvania at Bethany, and the Law School at 
Poughkeepsie, New York, in i860. Read law with Hon. Charles Denison, and 
was admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1861. Served in the late Civil War; 
Major-General of the Third Division of the National Guard for ten years. Was 
a candidate for Law Judge of Luzerne countj- in 1874. Served in Congress from 
1884 to 1891. 

LYMAN H. BENNETT. Esq.. 

Was born in Harpersfield, Delaware county, New York, in 1845, and there 
resided (if we except his absence in the different years of his school life) until 
his arrival at the age of twenty-one. In 1866 he accepted a position as account- 
ant in the United States Treasury Department at Washington, D. C, which he 
held until 1872. In the meantime he entered the law department of Columbia 
College, at that place, and there graduated. In 1872 he removed to Wilkes- 



56 REPRESKXTATIVE MEN. 

Barre. In the same year he was admitted to practice in the Courts of this- 
county, where lie has since pursued his chosen profession of the law. For a 
number of years he has been a prominent member of the Luzerne Bar, and has 
enjoyed the confidence, not only of an important clientage, but of his brother 
attorneys, who, in a larger number of important contested cases than usually 
fall to the lot of any one lawyer, have mutually seledled him to a<5l in the 
capacity of both Judge and Jury, under the titles of Auditor, Referee, or Master 
in Chancery. He was the recent candidate of the minority — the Republican 
party in Luzerne county — for the office of Additional Law Judge, and although 
defeated at the polls, he received a flattering vote from the opposite political 
party. In 1874 he married Miss Ella Robbins, of Wilkes-Barre. Of this union 
two daughters, Anna and Lillian, were born in 1875 and 1879 respedlively. 
The death of his eldest daughter, Anna, in 1888, left himself, his wife and one 
daughter, who constitute the present family circle. 

G M. REYNOLDS, 

The eldest son of William C. Reynolds, was born in Kingston borough. Edu- 
cated at Wyoming Seminary and Princeton. Read law with Hon. Stanley- 
Woodward, but never pracfticed. Was President of City Council for five years; 
for five years President of Board of Trade, and Colonel of the Ninth Regiment 
National Guard of Pennsylvania for six years. 

WILLL\M S. McLEAN, Esq., 

Born at Sunnuit Hill, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1842. Educated at Wilkes- 
Barre; graduated at Lafayette College, 1865; took the valedictory addresses 
and delivered the master's oration three years afterward. Admitted to the Lu- 
zerne Bar in 1867; City Attorney, 1875. and has continued in that office ever 
and candidate for Judge of Luzerne county in 1879. President of the First 
National Bank. 

Hon. GARRICK M. HARDING, 

Ex-Judge, was born in Exeter, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, July 12, 1830. 
His great-grandfather commanded Fort Wintermute in the Wyoming Massacre,, 
and his father Judge of the Court in Lee county, Illinois. Mr. Harding was 
educated in the Franklin Academy, in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, and 
■graduated from Dickinson College. Studied law with Hon. Henry M. Fuller, 
and was admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1S50; in [S58 was eledled Distrift 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 57 

Attorney of Lu/.eriic county; in iSyowas elected President Judge of the ICleventh 
Judicial District, and resijjned January i, 1880 Judge Harding is a man of fine 
literary taste and is well known as a writer. 

ISAAC P. HAND, Esq., 

Born in Berwick, Pennsylvania, April 5, 1S43. Prepared for college at Media, 
Pennsylvania: graduated from Lafayette in 1865. Served in the War of the 
Rebellion. Principal of Hyde Park School. Clerk of City Council of Scrautou, 
Pennsylvania. Admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1S69. Secretary and Treasurer 
ot the Wilkes-Barre Academy and Trustee of the Wilkes-Barre Female Institute. 
Served as Chairman of the Republican Count\' Committee. 

Hon. henry W. PALMER, 

Born in Clifford, township, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, July lO, 1839. 
Educated at the Wyoming Seminary and Fort Edward, New York, graduating 
from the Poughkeepsie Law School in i860. Studied law under Garrick M. 
Harding. Served as paymaster's clerk during the War of the Rebellion. 
Member of the Constitutional Convention in 1872. Attorney-General of Penn- 
sylvania under Governor Henry M. Hoyt's administration. 

Hon. JOHN LYNCH, 

Was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1843. Educated at Wyalusing and 
Wyoming Seminary. Studied law under G. M. Harding; admitted to the Lu- 
zerne Bar in 1865. Was clerk for Sheriff S. H. Peterbaugh; elected Register 
of Wills in i860; appointed Additional Law Judge in 1890 and elected in 1S91 
for a period of ten years. 

Hon. STANLEY WOODWARD, 

Additional Law Judge of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, was born in Wilkes- 
Barre in 1833. Son of a former Chief Justice of Pennsylv inia. Educated at the 
l";piscopal High School and Wyoming vSeminary, graduating with honor from 
Yale College in 1855. Studied law with the lion. Warren J. Woodward of New 
Haven, Connecticut; admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1856. Was counsel for the 
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad; Delaware and Hudson Canal 
Company, and Central Railroad of New Jersey. Served in the War of the Re- 



58 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

laellioii and commanded a company. Was appointed Additional lyavv Judge of 
lyuzerne county in 1879; elecfled in 1880 for a term of ten years, and re-elecled 
in 1890 for a further term for the same period. 

J. VAUGHN DARLING, Esq., 

Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, July 24, 1844. Was educated under Professor 
Kendall. Read law with R. C. McMurtrie of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and 
passed his examination before he was of age; admitted to the Luzerne Bar 
in 1874. He has contributed to tlie Atlantic and Lippincotf s Magazines , and 
was Assistant Editor of the NortJi American Exchange and Review. 

ANDREW HUNLOCK, Esq., 

Born in Kingston. Pensylvania. Educated at Wyoming Seminary. Read law 
with Lyman Hakes, Esq. One of the organizers and finst President of the An- 
thracite Savings Bank. Trustee of Memorial Church. 

ROBERT C. SHOEMAKER, Esq. 

Born in Kingston township, April 4, 1836. Son of the Hon. Charles D. Shoe- 
maker. Educated at the Wyoming iSeminary and graduated from Yale College 
in 1855. Read law with Andrew T. McClintock; admitted to the Luzerne Bar 
in 1869. 

GEORGE K. POWELL, Esq., 

Born at Fenn Van, New York, June 10, 1845. Educated at Penn Yan Academy 
and Genesee College, Lima, New York; graduated in 1866. Was Professor of 
Latin and Greek at the Beaver College and Eemale Institute. Entered the 
United States navy and visited South America. Admitted to the Luzerne Bar 
in 1871. 

GEORGE R. BEDFORD, Esq., 

Born in Abington, Lackawanna county, November 22, 1840. Attended Madi- 
son Academy and the Albany Law School. Admitted to the Bar at Albany, 
New York, May, 1862, and at Wilkes-Barre, November 22, 1862. Been in 
active pradlice as a lawyer ever since, on the civil side of the Court, mainly in 
corporation cases. Studied law in the office of Judge Stanley Woodward. Mar- 
ried, May 19, 1874, to Emily, daughter of Hon. Henry M. Fuller. Trustee of 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 



59 



Female Seminary and of the Hillman Academy; one of the organizers of the 
Anthracite Bank. Served as soldier in 1863 under the call of Governor Curtin. 

ANDREW H. McCLINTOCK, Esq., 

Son of A. T. McClintock. was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, December 
After his education he studied law with his father and J. V. Darling. Member 
of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, and Trustee of the Oster- 
liout Free Library. 

J. BENNETT SMITH 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre, July 8, 1834. Was connedled with William R. 
Maffett on North Pennsylvania Survey, in 1S53; also on North Branch Exten- 
sion Canal with Mr. Maffett. Identified with survey and workings of the Lack- 
wanna and Bloomsburg Railroad for a number of years, and several other 
enterprises in the valley. Afterward with Lehigh Coal and Navigation Com- 
pany as Soliciting Agent and Superintendent of ]\Iines at Wanamie. For the 
last twelve years connected with the Hazard Manufacturing Company of Wilkes- 
Barre, Pennsylvania. 

C. M. CONYNGHAM 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre, July 6, 1840. Son of Judge John N. Conyngham. 
After graduating from college, was admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1862. Went 
into active business, and is identified with the corporations of the vallej'. 
Served in the War of the Rebellion. 

Dr. JOSEPH A. MURPHY 

Was born in York county, Pennsylvania. Worked on his father's farm until he 
was sixteen years of age, and attended school during the winter; attended 
Stewart's Town Academy, conducfted by his cousin. Professor J. A. Murphy. 
Studied languages with the Rev. J. L. Menill. Served in the late War. 
Studied medicine with the celebrated Dr. John L. Atter of Lancaster, Pennsj-l- 
vania; graduated in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in 1868; 
pradliced medicine in Columbia, Pennsylvania, and came to Wilkes-Barre in 
1870. A member of the County, State and National Medical Societies; member 
of the Board of Trade and Historical Society; stockholder in many of our local 
industries. Married Miss Fannie Parrish, granddaughter of the late Dr. Smith; 



6o REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

his children are Louise, Mabel and Kathleen. Dr. Murphy was one of the 
projectors of the Luzerne Medical Society, also one of the attendant physicians 
of the Wilkes-Barre Hospital from its establishment. He is one of the leading 
phj^sicians of this section. 

Hon. henry M. HOYT 

Was born in Kingt^ton, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1830. Worked on his father's- 
farm until the age of fourteen. Educated at the old Wilkes-Barre Academy and 
Wyoming Seminary: graduated at Williams College in 1849. Taught in the 
Academy at Towanda; taught mathematics at Wyoming Seminary: also taught 
in the Graded School at Memphis, Tennessee. Studied law under George W. 
Woodward, and was admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1853. Served his country 
in the War of the Rebellion and was brevetted Brigadier-General. Elecfted 
Additional Law Judge of Luzerne county. Appointed Colleeftor of Revenue for 
Luzerne and Susquehanna counties in 1S69. Inaugurated Governor of Pennsyl- 
vania in 1879. Author of much valuable literature. 

Hon. CHARLES E. RICE, 

President Judge of Luzerne county, was born at Fairfield, New York, Septem- 
ber 14, 1S46. Prepared for college at Fairfield Academy; graduated from Ham- 
ilton College in 1867. Taught in the Bloomsburg Librarj- Institute. Read law 
with John G. Freeze; graduated from the Albany Law School in 1S69, admitted 
to the Bar of the Supreme Court of New York; in 1870 admitted to the Luzerne 
Par; elected District Attorne}- of Luzerne county in 1876; elected Law Judge in 
1879; is at present President Judge. 

Hon. GEORGE W. SHONK, 

Was born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, April 26, 1S60. Educated at the Wyo- 
ming Seminary: graduated from Wesleyan Universit}' in 1883. Studied law" 
with Hon. H. B. Payne; admitted to the Bar of Luzerne county in 1876. 
Elected to Congress on the Republican ticket in 1S90. 

S. L. BROWN 

Was born in Wayne county, Pennsylvania. Educated in public schools. At 
thirteen years of age had charge of a set of books in a store at Mount Pleasant. 
Entered the rnercantile business at Honesdale, and later engaged extensively in 




SvTKWWtT. H1H1 



TH1-; \VV(,)MIN('. VALI.IvV. 6i 

the- tannery business. Removed to Wilkes-Barre and became a member of tin.- 
firm of Conyngham & Paine. In iS86 he established the firm of S. L. BroXvn & 
Company, that has become one of the largest oil houses in this seclion. Mr. 
Brown lias an interest in many business enterprises in this section and owns one 
of the finest residences in the city. 

ED\V.\RI) STERLING LOOP 

Was born in Elmira, New York, Februarv ii, 1S23. Attended the school of J. 
B. Dow, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. In 1S40 removed to St. Louis, Mis- 
souri; returned to Wilkes-Barre and was employed by Ziba Bennett for fifty 
dollars per annum. Removed to White Haven in 1S42. In 1844 went to New 
York city, and in May, 1S53, was made Cashier of the Wyoming Bank, Wilkes- 
P.arre, and remained until 1S74. 

HARRY C. DAYIS, 

Born in Washington, District of Columbia, September 24, 1856. Educated in 
the public schools of Washington, and graduated at the head of his class in the 
Columbian L'niversity, in 1878. Became adjunct-professor of Greek in the Lhii- 
versity and held the position for four years. At present Principal of the Harry 
Hillman Academy. In conjunclion with Mr. J. C. Bridgman, author of " Brief 
Declamations." 

H. BAKER HILLMAN 

Was born at Manluck, Pennsylvania. Came to Wilkes-Barre in 1841. His 
father, Colonel H. B. Hillman. was one of the first coal operators of the valley. 
Mr. Hillman became a coal operator after completing his education, and has 
been actively engaged ever since. One of the first Directors of the People's 
Bank; Secretary of the Vulcan Iron Works for many years; was a member of 
the last Borough and of the first City Council. The Harry Hillman Academy 
of the city, is a gift to this city and a memorial to his deceased son, Harry 
Hillman. 

GEORGE BRUBAKER KULP, Esq., 

Of Wilkes-Barre. Pennsylvania, lawj'er, author of " Families of the Wyoming 
Valley" in three volumes, editor of the Luzerne " Legal Register " in fourteen 
volumes, Luzerne ' ' Legal Register Reports ' ' in six volumes, born at Reams- 



62 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

town, Pennsylvania, Februar}' ii, 1S39 (married 0(?lober 4, 1864, Mary Eliza- 
beth' daughter of John Stewart of Eackawanna, Pennsylvania, of Scotch descent, 
and his wife Elizabeth Ann Williams, descendant of Sergeant Thomas Williams, 
famous in the stirring events of the Wyoming Valley); second son of Eli Sellers 
of St. Georges, Delaware, born at Kulpville, Pennsylvania, February 2, 1800, 
died at St. George's, July 6. 1849, teacher (married 0(ftober 6, 1831, Susanna 
Breneiser, born Odlober 3, 1809, descendant of John Valentine Breneiser, who 
came to America Septembers, 1730, in the ship " Alexander and Ann"); son 
by first wife of Abraham of near Linden, Pennsylvania, born at Kulpsville, 
July 19, 1770, died at Linden, February 11, 1847, farmer (married, first, Bar- 
bara, daughter of Leonard Sellers, descendant of Philip Henry Soller, who came 
to America in ship "James Goodwill" September 11. 1728; married, second. 
Elizabeth, born May 21, 1785, daughter of Daniel VVampole, son of Henry 
Wampole, who came to America in 1743); son of Jacob of Kulpsville, Pennsyl- 
vania, born at Whitpain, Pennsylvania, March 7, 1740, died at Kulpsville, June 
28, 1818, farmer (married November 6, 1766, Mary, daughter of Abraham 
Cleamans, son of Gearhart, who came to America in 1717); son of Peter Koll> 

of Perkiomen and Skippack, Pennsylvania, farmer (married Elizabeth E. ); 

son of Rev. Henry Kolb of Skippack, Pennsylvania, who came with his wife, 
Barbara, from Germany as early as 1709 — his name appears first on a list of 
elders and ministers published in 1727, his maternal grandfather was Peter 
Schumacher, an early Quaker convert from the Meunonite Church, who came 
to Pennsylvania 0(5tober 12, 1685, in ship " Francis and Dorothy." 

W. A. LATHROP, 

Born August 4, 1854, at Springville, Susquehanna county, Pennt^ylvania. 
Graduated at Lehigh University in June, 1875, with degree of C. E. Engaged 
at mine surveying and kindred mining work with Irving A. Stearns at Wilkes- 
Barre for about two years; principal Assistant Engineer of Lehigh Valley Rail- 
road for about three years, with office at Bethlehem. Superintendent Midvale 
Ore Company, Prompton, New Jersey, about one j^ear. General Superintendent 
and Engineer of the Southwest Virginia Improvement Company from the fall of 
1881 until the summer of 1884, during which time he opened and developed the 
Flat Top Coal Field of Virginia; built the town of Pocahontas in what was then 
a wilderness, and opened the mines and built the coking plant of the Southwest 
Company at that place. Superintendent of the Bituminous Coal Department of 
the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, with headquarters at Snow Shoe, Center 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 63 

county Pennsylvania, from the summer of 1884 until the winter of 1888, when 
he succeeded Fred. Mercur as General vSuperintendent of the last named Com- 
pany, with office at Wilkes-Barre. 

ALFRED DARTE, Esq., 

Was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, and is the eldest son of Judge 
Alfred Darte, now deceased. He was educated at Wyoming Seminary, and was 
in early years admitted to pradlice law, a partner with his father. In 1861, at 
the breaking out of the Rebellion, they closed their law office, both responded 
to the call for 75,000 men, and served through the first three months of the Re- 
bellion — the father as a Captain and the son as a Lieutenant in the same Regi- 
ment. Afterward he entered the Cavalry service, and was a Captain in the 
Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry until discharged for disability from wounds re- 
ceived in action at Trevillian Station, Virginia, in 1864. Captain Darte's com- 
mand was a part of the famous Phil. Sheridan Cavalry. In civil life Captain 
Darte has filled many positions of honor and trust. He holds a commission as 
Lieutenant-Colonel of the Veteran Military League, an organization similar but 
antedating the Grand Army of the Republic. Is a member of the Grand Army 
of the Republic, and has served as Commander of Conyngham Post, No. 97, of 
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and was its Delegate to the last National Encamp- 
ment at Detroit. Was eledled Districfl Attorney of Luzerne county for a three 
year term, in 1879, and re-elecfled for a second term in 1888, and has vigorously 
represented the Commonwealth, in the enforcement of her laws with intelligence 
and integrity. Colonel Darte is one of the most adlive Republicans in his party 
and a public speaker of repute. He resides at Kingston, Pennsylvania. 

EDWARD FREAS BOGERT 

Was born in New Columbus borough, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, September 
27, 1856. He attended the public schools, at the Male and Female Academy of 
New Columbus (paying for his tuition in j)art by building fires and ringing the 
hell) and for a short time at the Keystone Academy of Factory ville. After 
quitting these institutions, he assisted some in his father's wheelwright, black- 
smith and paint shops, taking a hand in all departments of this work, and in the 
spring of 1878 leased a farm in the vicinity which he personally worked until 
April 1 , 1880. During a portion of the term of his brother, the late J. K. Bogert. 
as Register of Wills of Luzerne County, he fulfilled the duties of a clerk in that 
office, and on April i, 1880, entered the business office of the Leader, shortly 



64 REPRKSiiNTATRE MEN. 

afterward assuniins^ cliarge of its books. During J. K. Bogert's aclive service 
as Chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee, in iSSi, and from the 
time of J. K.'s appointment as Postmaster of Wilkes-Barre, in July, 1885, the 
bu.siness management of the Leader was mainly in charge of the subjedl of our 
sketch. In February, iJ^Sy, J. K. Bogert died. E. F. Bogert managed the 
business for the estate until April i. 1888, when he purchased the building and 
Evening and Weekly Union Leader plant, and has ever since been the publisher 
and editor of the three papers daily, weekly and Sunday — issued from its 
presses. This purchase was made at a time when Mr. Bogert's supplj- of capi- 
tal was verj' limited, but friends came to his assistance, and by the most careful 
economy, never once losing faith in or becoming discouraged with his venture, 
he has succeeded in placing it among the fixed successful business institutions 
of the county, and this without missing a pay day or allowing a note to go to 
protest. He has likewise effected a material enlargement of the plant of the 
concern, made additions to the building and greatly improved its interior ap- 
pointments. It should be stated that the Sunday paper was not part of the 
property of the estate, but was an independent enterprise owned by E. F. Bogert, 
that became a fixed and payingconcern almost from its start, in November, 1885. 
Mr. Bogert has been and is an a6live worker in the interests of the Democratic 
party, which his paper represents, an enthusiastic and untiring promoter of base 
ball and other athletic sports, and an advocate of all forms of municipal progress 
and improvement. 

THE WILKES-BARRE LEADER. 

From the handsome building at No. 7 North Main Street, known as the 
Leader building, erecfted especially for the purpose, three newspapers are 
issued — the evening daily, the Weekly Union and the Sunday Mor^iing Leader. 
By frequent consolidations and transfers of preceding publications, the oldest of 
them dating as far back as 18 10, the Weekly Union Leader came into being 
through the uniting of the plants of the Leader and the Luzerne Union in Jan- 
uary, 1879, the Leader having been_ moved from Pittston in the fall of 1877, 
where it had been published by Messrs. E. A. Niven and C. H. Chamberlin, 
and the Luzerne Union being at the time the only other Democratic newspaper 
at the county seat. The publishers of the consolidated journal were J. K. Bogert 
and George B. Kulp, who were the only stockholders of what was styled the 
Leader Publishing Company. Mr. Bogert, in February, 1879, purchased Mr. 
Kulp's interest. On April i, 1884, the present building was completed and 
occupied. The first issue of the Daily was on October i, 1879, and the Sunday 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 65 

edition made its initial appearance in November, 1885, and although bearing 
the name of the Leader, was a separate publication, with E. F. Bogert and John 
S. McGroarty as editors and publishers. Mr. MrGroartj', after a few months, 
retired from the partnership. Mr. J. K. Bogert died February 3, 1887. The 
Leader publications were under the control of the estate from then on until 
April I, 1888, when the}' were purchased, with all the appurtenances, by the 
brother of the deceased and present publisher and editor, E. F. Bogert, a brief 
sketch of whom is elsewhere published. 

HON. JOHN N. CONYNGHAM 

Was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1798. Graduated with high honors at the 
Universit\- of Pennsylvania in 1817. Came to Wilkes-Barre in 1820. He 
became President Judge of Luzerne County and served for thirty years. Member 
of the Legislature in 1849. For fifty years vestry-man in St Stephen's Church 
in Wilkes-Barre. His death on February 23, 1871, resulted from having his 
limbs crushed under the wheels of a car. 

CHARLES PARRISH 

Has resided all his life in Wilkes-Barre. He is one of the leading coal and 
railroad men in the State and probablj' has done more for these industries in this 
section than any other individual. Was President of the Lehigh & Wilkes- 
Barre Coal Company, one of the organizers and President of the First National 
Bank, President of the Hazard Manufacturing Company and is connected with 
many other industries of the valle\-. 

LIDDON FLICK, Esq., 

AVas born at Wilkes-Barre, October 29, 185.S. He is the eldest son of the late 
Reuben Jay Flick, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. Mr. Flick received his 
education at the public schools of Wilkes-Barre and at Princeton College, grad- 
uating from the latter institution in 1882 with the degree of B. A. He entered 
the law school of Columbia College, New York, and upon graduation in 1884 
received the degree of LL. B. eum lande. In 1885 he was admitted to the New 
York City Bar, and the same year received from Princeton College the degree of 
M. A. In 1886 he returned to Wilkes-Barre, where he has since been practicing 
his profession. Mr. Flick is an energetic, pains-taking young man, and most 
activelv interested in the industries and improvements of his native citv. He 



66 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

holds the responsible position of Direcftor in the Wilkes-Barre Lace Company, 
Wyoming Valley Ice Company, Newport Coal Company, Wilkes-Barre and 
Kingston Bridge Companj', and Treasurer and Direcftor of the Newell Clothing 
Company. He is also one of the Trustees of the Wilkes-Barre City Hospital 
and of the Musical Association. As a connoisseur and collector of books and 
fine art, Mr. Flick has more than a local reputation. As a man, his character 
endures close and intimate acquaintance. In every position which business or 
popularity has called him, by his energy and integrity he has justified public 
confidence and the expedlations of his friends. 

EUGENE W. MULLIGAN, 

The subjedt of this sketch, was born in the city of Reading, Pennsylvania, 
0(flober 28, 1852. A graduate of the Reading High School. Came to Wilkes- 
Barre, Pennsylvania, April 21, 1877; entered the Second National Bank as a 
clerk, arose to the position of Cashier, which position he has occupied for the 
past eight j'ears. 

P. M. CARHART, 

Cashier of the First National Bank of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was born at 
Belvidere, New Jersey. His father, well known as a merchant, is still living. 
Mr. Carhart's experience as a banker covers a period of twentv-five years — thir- 
teen j'ears with Messrs. Bennett, Phelps & Company, five years at the Wyoming 
National Bank, and seven years with the First National, of which he is now the 
Cashier. As a banker, Mr. Carhart is enterprising and progressive, yet careful 
and prudent. Under his management the business of the First National has 
steadily grown in volume, and its methods in favor with business men. With 
Mr. Carhart at its head we predidt for this good old institution continued growth 
and increased prosperit)'. 

CHARLES JONAS LONG. 

The oldest son of the late lamented and esteemed citizen, Jonas Long, was born 
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ma3' 3, 1859. After a brief residence in Philadel- 
phia, his parents removed to Wilkes-Barre, Penn.sj'lvania, where, in i860, were laid 
the foundations of the present great dry-goods establishmeut. At an early age he 
attended the Wilkes-Barre public schools and Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, 
Pennsylvania. Solicitous for the attainment of a liberal and higher education, 
he wa:; sent to Philadelphia, where he entered the Philadelphia Central High 



THE WYOMING VALLFA'. 67 

School, after which, in a course of two years of private instruction and study 
under the celebrated teacher and author, Professor George Stuart of Philadel- 
phia, he fitted himself for Yale College. New Haven, Connecticut, which he 
entered in 1S78. After a classical course of four years, he graduated from Yale 
College in 1882. After graduation, his professional career, owing to his father's 
illness, merged into the cares of the growing and extensive dry -goods business 
in which he is now engaged, associated with his mother and brothers. Although 
immersed in the pursuits of a large commercial business, yet he finds time to 
devote himself to the cultivation of literary work; and, in the liberal encourage- 
ment of local improvements, lends responsive voice and effort to enterprises that 
promise benefit to the city. His addresses are characterized by graceful thought 
and eloquent inspiration, particularly those before the Young Men's Hebrew 
Association, the Board of Trade of which he is a Trustee, and before the mass 
meeting at Music Hall for Hospital endowment. He is President of the Young 
Men's Hebrew Association, a member of Wyoming Historical Society, Yale 
Alumni Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Trustee of the Board of 
Trade, and numerous other Societies of the community. His close observation, 
force of character, and genial disposition, fit him truly well for the development 
and success that so auspiciously heralds a useful career. 

WILLIAM H. DEAN 

Was born in Illinoi-i. Educated at Lehigh University, taking the degrees of 
Analytical Chemist and Engineer of Mines. Occupation, Analytical and Con- 
sulting Chemist; Professor of Physics and Chemistry in the Harry Hillman 
Academy. 

ISAAC LONG, 

The well known Dry-Goods and Carpet Merchant, was born in Pretzfeld, 
Bavaria, in the year 1834. When a boy of fonrteen he left his home and came 
to America to seek his fortune, and arrived in Wilkes-Barre in 1848, where he 
remained until he was twenty years old; he then went to Philadelphia, and was 
engaged in the manufacturing business for a number of years. In 1873. Mr. 
Long returned to Wilkes-Barre and embarked in his present business, which has 
been a most wonderful success. Starting with a couple of clerks in a small 
store in 1873, and in 1S91 to be the occupant of the mammoth double store-room 
and two other floors in the Welles Building, where he gives steady' employment 
to forty-three people, is certainlj' a remarkable business showing, and can only 



68 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

be due to his pluck, energy and business tact. Mr. Long is one of our most 
popular citizens, and is interested in a number of enterprises; he is also Vice- 
President of the Electric Light Company and the Board of Trade. 

J. C. POWELL 

Was born in 1854, at Lansford, Carbon county. Moved to Shenandoah at an 
early age. Taught in the public schools of Schuylkill count}- for seven years. 
Attended the Millersville State Normal School, Chittenden College of Phila.lel- 
phia, and Bloomsburg State Normal School. Was employed on the Shenandoah 
Herald for eight years, and helped to establish the Colliery Engineer, now pub- 
lished in Scranton. Came to Wilkes-Barre in 1S83, and ever since has been one 
of the editors and proprietors of the Record. 

FREDERICK C. JOHNSON, 

Born at Marquette, Wisconsin, 1853. Son of Wesley Johnson and great-grand- 
son of Rev. Jacob Johnson, one of the original settlers of Wilkes-Barre in 1772. 
F. C. was taught at the public schools of Wilkes-Barre and at Ripon College, 
Wisconsin. Beginning with 1871, he had a business training of about ten years 
in the banking-house of Bennett, Phelps & Company, the coal ofiEce of F. J. 
Leavenworth and the Wilkes-Barre Gas Company, meanwhile engaging at odd 
moments in voluntary contributions to the local papers and doing special cor- 
respondence from the coal region for the Chicago Tribune. He also spent a year 
on reportorial work in Chicago for that paper. He studied medicine at the 
University of Pennsylvania, graduating therefrom in 1883. Instead of engaging 
in practice he embraced an opportunity for entering journalism and purchased 
an interest in the Wilkes-Barre Rccoi'd. the oldest daily paper in the city. He 
has conducted every department of the paper in turn — local, editorial and busi- 
ness manager. Mr. Johnson married in 1885, his wife also being a native of 
Wisconsin. Two children have been born to them. Mr. Johnson has actively 
identified himself with the local life of the community in the different ways that 
were congenial to his tastes. He is a member of the Board of Trade, an officer 
of the Historical Society, a Trustee of the Young Men's Christian Association, a 
member of the Luzerne County Medical Society and of the State Society, a mem- 
ber of the Republican County Committee, a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
the American Legion of Honor and the Heptasophs, and is one of the committee 
appointed by the State Board of Charities to inspect the public institutions of 
Luzerne county. He is a member of the State Editorial Association and was 
one of it^ Vice-Presidents. 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 69 

The /Record wna established in 1853 by William P. Miner, who in 1873 began 
the publication of the daily. In 1883 the plant was sold to C. B. Snyder, F. C. 
Johnson and J. C. Powell, Mr. Snyder retiring in 1888, the Record continuing 
since under the management of the firm of Johnson & Pou-ell. 

FREDERIC CORSS, M. D.. 

The son of the Rev. Charles C. Corss, who was one "stated preacher" of the 
Congregational Churches of Kingston, Forty Fort and Exeter in 1836, was 
born at Athens in Bradford county, January 16, 18+2. Attended school one 
term at Wv'oming Seminary and one term at Susquehanna Collegiate Institute. 
With these exceptions his preparation for college was carried on at home. 
Entered the sophomore class at Lafayette College in 1859. receiving the degree 
of A. B. at that institution in 1862 and the degree of A- M. in 1865. Studied 
medicine atthe University of Pennsylvania, receiving the degree of M. D. in 1866, 
coming immediately to Kingston, where he has since practiced his profession. 

JOHNSON R. COOLBAUGH, 

The subject of this sketch, is a native of Bradford county, this State. Spent the 
first sixteen years of his life on his father's farm. Early in life manifested a 
love for trade: came to Pittston and spent two years clerking; then came to 
Wilkes-Barre and secured a position with the late Andrew Kesler, where he 
remained two years. Taking the advice of Horace Greeley, to "go West, 
\-oung man," went to Beloit, Wisconsin, remained there nearly four years, fill- 
ing responsible positions with leading mercantile houses. In January, i860, 
returned to Wilkes-Barre on a visit. Noting the old fog}- manner of doing busi- 
ness here compared with the West, determined to establish an exclusive dry- 
goods business. Wilkes-Barre was at this time a borough of about four thousand 
people, bounded by the river. North, South and Canal streets. Among the 
leading merchants were Hon. Ziba Bennett, R. J. Flick, John B. Wood and 
Charles F. Reets. With little capital he determined that if honesty and enter- 
prise could succeed he would. Continuing until the fall, and being desirous of 
enlarging the business, associated with him D. H. Frantz, and moved into the 
new store now occupied by Jonas Long. The War was now in progress, goods 
advancing in price, and their business proved a grand success, theirs becoming 
the leading dry-goods house. About i86S, Mr. Frantz retired, and Mr. Cool- 
baugh continued until 1872. Selling out to Mr. Bossier, he, with the late 
William M. Bennett, established the well known shoe house and continued with 



70 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

markei'. success until 1880. In the meantime, other business claiming his atten- 
tion, he sold his interest to Mr. Walter. In 1872 formed the firm of Miller, 
Bertels & Coolbaugh, the object being real estate. From 1872 to 1883 was the 
trusted assistant to G. M. Miller, Tax Receiver. In 1878 bought out his part- 
ners in the real estate t)usiness, which he has continued until the present time 
with success. During the past twenty-five years Mr. Coolbaugh has done much 
to develop the city — Franklin street from Acadeui)' street down, Sullivan street, 
Dana Place, Church and Barney streets, were projected by him. He is the 
trusted agent of several large estates and enjoys the distinction of being the 
leading real estate dealer. Has never sought public office, excepting serving 
three years as Councilman-at-large. His has been a busy life, marked by strict 
integrity, reasonable success and good citizenship. 

P. A. O'BOYLE, Esq., 

Born in Ireland, November 10, 1861, and emigrated from there in 1864 with his 
parents, who settled in Pittston, where they have since lived. Educated in the 
pubjic schools of Pittston borough. He began the study of law with Alexander 
Farnham of the city of Wilkes-Barre, and was admitted to the Bar in 1885. 
Assistant Distriift Attorney in 1892. 

WILLIAM GLASSELL ENO, 

Born Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Educated at the public schools of Wilkes- 
Barre. Son of Josiah W. Eno. In 1870, shipping agent at the coal mines of 
J. C. Fuller at Plymouth; from 1871 to 1S74 with South Mountain Mining 
and Iron Company, in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania; 1S74 to 1876 member 
of the firm of J. W. Eno & Son, Insurance Agents at Plymouth; since 1876 of 
the insurance firm of Biddle & Eno, Wilkes-Barre. 

JAMES M. COUGHLIN 

Was born in Fairmount township, Luzerne county-, Pennsylvania, and received 
his education mainly in the public schools. He has been engaged in educa- 
tional work fur the past twenty years. During this time he taught in every depart- 
ment of school vvork, first in the public school, then in selecft schools, after he 
was Principal of New Columbia Academy. He was the first Principal of the 
Bennett Grammar School at Luzerne. He was next Principal of the schools in 
the borough of Kingston. While teaching in Kingston he was elected Superin- 
tendent of the Schools of Luzerne county, and held the position for four terras 




I 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 71 

(twelve years). During his career as County Superintendent he became recog- 
nized as among the leading educators of the State. He placed the schools of the 
county in excellent shape, and became very popular as an Institute instrucflor. 
He has been called to lecture on educational subjedls in nearly everj' city in this 
Slate, and has been frequently invited to address educational gatherings in other 
States. In the fall of 1S91 he was eledled Vice-Principal of the Bloomsburg 
State Normal School, and was called from there to take charge of the public 
schools of Wilkes-Barre city, which position he now holds. 

J. C. BELL 

Was born in York county in 1850. Attended the public schools a short time 
and the State Normal School at Millers ville, from which place he graduated. 
He taught in the public schools ten years, and served as City Clerk one year. 
In 1881 he commenced banking as clerk in the First National Bank of Wilkes- 
Barre. Was elecfted to his present position in 1887, Cashier of the Wilkes-Barre 
Savings and Deposit Bank. 

HENDRICK WRIGHT SEARCH 

Was born in Salem township, Luzerne county, June 30, 1855. He was educated 
in the public schools at Shicksliinny, which is still his home. He has been a 
prominent man in public affairs, having filled the offices of Deputj' Register of 
Wills, Commissioners' Clerk, and was High Sheriff of Luzerne county during 
1887-8-9. He was also a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention that 
nominated Cleveland for President in 1888. 

W. L. RAEDER, Esq., 

Has been President of the Pittston Pressed Brick Company; Trustee of Lodge 
No. 61, F. & A. M., two years, one of the oldest lodges in I*ennsylvania; mem- 
ber of the Young Men's Christian Association; represented his Ward in the 
Democratic Convention; served four years in the National Guard of Wilkes- 
Barre as Second Sergeant. 

JOHN THOMSON 

Was born in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Came to America with his parents 
in 1842, they settling in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, in 1845. He received his 
education in the public schools of the State. Served apprenticeship to the trade 



72 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

of machinist in the Pennsylvania Coal Company's Shops at Hawley, Pennsylva- 
nia. In 1863 entered the employ of the Dickson Manufacfturing Companv at 
Scranton, and has remained with them until the present, serving them in the 
capacity of Journeyman, Foreman and Superintendent of their works in Wilkes- 
Barre, Pennsylvania. 

WILLIAM J. HARYEY 

Was born in Plymouth in 1837. Educated at Wyoming Seminary, Middletown, 
Connecticut, and finished his education at Princeton, New Jersey. Began life 
as manager of a coal mine for his father at Plymouth. Served in the L'nited 
States army in the Second Pennsylvania Reserves; mustered out as Adjutant. 
Went into partnership with his father, H. H. Harvey, as miner and shipper of 
coal, and later in real estate. President of the Wilkes-Barre and Kingston Street 
Car Company until sold to a syndicate. 

THOMAS J. WHEATON, 

Dentist, was born in Jackson, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania. Educated 
at Franklin Academy and Leroyville Academy; took a course in the Rochester 
Medical College. Came to W^ilkts-Barre in 1873, and since that time has been 
one of the leading dentists of that city. Served in the LTnited States navy 
during the War. Dr. Wheaton began to pracftice medicine, but after a few j'ears 
abandoned it for dentistry, and has followed that profession for thirty years. 

Hon. MORGAN B. WILLIAMS 

Was born in Wales. September 17, 1S31. Educated in the English branches. 
Learned mining in England, Australia and in the Ignited States. Is at the 
present time a coal operator in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Elecfted to the 
vSenate in 1884. Has served as School Director and Councilman-at-Large in 
Wilkes-Barre. 

SAMUEL W. BOYD. 

If the old saying, "You can always tell the characteristics of a man by his- 
writings," is true, then Editor S. W. Boyd of The News Dealer must be both 
fearless and independent. He was born in Carbon county thirty-eight years- 
ago, and in early life removed with his family to this city. He finally drifted 
to New York, where in business pursuits he accumulated considerable money. 
Returning to this city, he embarked in the grocery business, at the same time 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 73 

distinguishing himself in the political world as a leader in many hard fought 
campaigns. Elected to the office of Register of Wills of the county, he filled 
the important position with credit to himself and satisfadlion to his constituents. 
Retiring from the office four \-ears ago, he purchased, in conjunction with John 
J. Maloney, the Daily and Sunday News Dealer, which under their management 
has rapidly risen to the front rank of Northeastern Pennsylvania journalism. 
Nature has eminently qualified Mr. Boyd for the journalistic world. Being a 
close student for many years, he possesses an unlimited supply of knowledge 
and information, and being a versatile writer, with a field peculiarly his own, 
and a commendable independence and fearlessness, his articles are easily recog- 
nized and widelj' read and quoted. Of late he has permitted his graceful pen to 
wander into the fields of poetry, and many rythmic flowers glistening with the 
dew-drops of genius is the result. The song charmingly entitled " I'll be Back 
Some Day to You," is from his versatile pen, and will no doubt achieve well 
merited popularity. 

R. A. SPALDING 

Was born at Albany, New York. Educated in that city. Became a member of 
Spalding, Oler, Alger & Osborne Music Store. Came to Wilkes-Barre from 
Troy, New York, in 1884. Was the first Secretary of the W^ilkes-Barre Oratorio 
Society and one of its organizers. Has charge of the singing in Sunday Schools 
in the city. Is Second Lieutenant in the Ninth Regiment. 

GEORGE P. LOOMIS, Esq., 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre, May i, i860. Graduated at Wyoming Seminary in 
1878 and Syracuse University in 1883. He was cashier in John S. Looniis's 
large Planing Mills, Brooklyn, for two years. Studied law with Agib Ricketts 
and Her ry A. Fuller, and was admitted to the Bir in 1886. Mr. Loomis's prac- 
tice is that of a Counselor, and his advice and counsel are sought and highly 
regarded for one so you-)g. It is seldom he appears in Court. Mr. Loornis has 
been instrumental in establishing inanj- of the industries in our city. 

DAVID P. AYERS 

Was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania. Came to Wilkes-Barre as a book- 
keeper for Haggerty & O'Donnell, railroad contractors, in 1867; afterwards 
entered the Collector's office of Internal Revenue under Hon. J. B. Stark, con- 
tinuing in this service as a Deputy during the consecutive terms of Hon. C. E. 



74 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

Wright and Hon. H. M. Hoyt, till 1S73, when he was elected City Clerk and 
served in that office till December, 1875, when he was offered and accepted the 
position of Cashier of the Miners' Savings Bank, in place of Mr. J. A. Rippard, 
resigned, in which position he continues at the present time. He is also a 
member of the City Council and represents the Eleventh, Thirteenth and Four- 
teenth Wards and serves on some of the important committees of that body. Of 
the Finance Committee he is chairman, and is also one of the Sinking Fund 
Commissioners. 

WIELIAM HARRISON CAPWEEL, 

Publisher of the Plymouth Tribune, was born in Clinton township, Wyoming 
county, Pennsylvania, March 25, 1843. His descent is from Rhode Island 
stock, though the name is from the French. He was educated in the common 
schools, and at the age of seventeen commenced teaching, which he continued 
with var3'ing success for a number of 3-ears. His health becoming impaired, he 
worked at carpentering for a number -of years. In 1876 his first newspaper work 
was done for the Wyoming Democrat at Tunkhannock. In 1885 he purchased 
the Nanticoke Tribune of M. C. Andreas, and conducted the same quite success- 
fully for several years. In July, 1891, he moved the office to Plymouth, and 
established the Plymouth Tribune, which he still owns and manages. 

BENJ. F. STARK 

Was born at Spring Brook (now Moosic), Luzerne county, in the year 1845, on 
July 15. His father, Cornelius Stark, and mother, Eouisa Wagner, were born 
at Plains, Euzerne county. B. F. Stark came to Wilkes-Barre in the year 1873, 
where he began the Livery business and is still carrying it on. He became 
identified with the Ninth Regiment in the year 1879, and is now the Lieutenant- 
Colonel. He married Mary F. Warner, a daughter of Hon. D. D. Warner, of 
Montrose, Pennsylvania. 

JESSE T. MORGAN, 

The subjecft of this sketch, was born in Wilkes-Barre in 1843, and was educated 
in our public schools. His business career commenced when but a boy as a 
clerk in his father's shoe store on Market street, in the year 1869. When but 
twenty-one years of age he became a partner with his father, and took the full 
management of the business, which was condudted with moderate success. In 
the year 1876, W. P. Morgan, a younger brother, became a partner — his father 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 75 

retiring. A jobbing department was added to the retail business, and later the 
business was changed to niainifacluring and jobbing, Mr. D. Davis of Worces- 
ter, Massachusetts, becoming a member of the firm. The business was run suc- 
cessfully under the firm name of Morgan Bros. & Company for about eight years, 
when Mr. Davis retired, he having purchased the manufacfturing plant. J. T. 
& W. P. Morgan continued the jobbing business. Mr. Morgan is also engaged 
in real estate largeh-, being connedled with his brother, W. P., in developing 
the Lee Park addition to the city of Wilkes-Barre. 

LUTHER CURRAN DARTE 

Was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, and was one of four children 
of the late Judge Alfred Darte of Carbondaie, Pennsylvania. He was educated 
in the common schools at Carbondaie and Business College at Pouglikeepsie, 
New York. Served in the late War when but a lad, in the same regiment with 
his father and brother. Mr. Darte is a resident of Kingston, Pennsylvania, 
where he has lived since 1865. He was for a number of years the general pas- 
senger agent and general accountant of the Lackawaiuia and Bloomsburg Rail- 
road Company, leaving the employ of the Company when the road was merged 
into the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company. Was Cashier 
of the Ashley Savings Bank at one time. Was eledled County Commissioner of 
Luzerne count}' on the Republican ticket, and served creditablj- three years as 
such. Mr. Darte is an active and influential Republican, and is well known 
throughout the State. He was a delegate to the Republican National Conven- 
tion, which nominated President Harrison, and in the Convention warmly 
espoused the cause of General Russell A. Alger's candidacy for President. He 
has served both on the Republican State Committee and as one of the chairmen 
of the Luzerne Republican County Committee a number of times. He is at 
present largely engaged in the business of Real Estate and Insurance in Wilkes- 
Barre. 

CHRISTIAN WALTER 

Was born in the Grand Dutchy of Baden, German}', in 1S48. Came to this 
country in 1854; has lived nearly all that time in Luzerne county. Received 
very little schooling, only seven terms of four months each in the country dis- 
tricts of Luzerne county. When nineteen years old took clerkship in country 
store in Conyngham; remained five years, then came to Wilkes-Barre as Book- 
keeper for Baer & Stegmaier ; from there to W. Stoddart & Company as sales- 
man, remaining with them five years, when in 1879 entered into partnership 



76 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

with W. M. Bennett, when the firm of Bennett & Walter, Boot and Shoe Mer- 
chants, was established. 

EDWIN SHORTS, Esq., 

Was born in Mauch Clunik, PennsNivania. Educated in the public schools and 
Mauch Chunk Academy. Became a successful business man, then studied law 
with Stanley Woodward, and admitted to the Euzerne Bar in 1880. Was a 
candidate for State Senator. 

Hon. WILLIAM H. HINES 

Was born in Brooklyn, New York, March 16, 1854. Educated in public schools 
and Wyoming Seminary. Read law with John Lynch and G. M. Harding, 
and admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1881. Eledted by the Labor Reform Party 
to the State Legislature in 1S78, and to the same office in 1882. Elected to the 
Senate in 1888. 

C. BOW. DOUGHERTY, 

Born in Wilkes-Barre, September, i860. Educated in the public schools of that 
city and Emerson Institute, Washington, District of Columbia. Entered the 
office of the Susquehanna Coal Company in 1879, and is now Chief Clerk of the 
Coal Companies of Pennsyh^ania Railroad. Married Anne W. Posten, February 
6, 1883. Enlisted in the Ninth Regiment, National Guards of Pennsylvania, 
August I, 1881; appointed Regimental Clerk, 1881; Sergeant- Major, 1883, and 
First Lieutenant and Inspedlor of Rifle Practice, 1887. Secretary Wilkes-Barre 
Musical Association (Ninth Regiment Band). Member Pennsylvania Society 
Sons of the Revolution. 

ROBERT LEE AYRES 

Is probably, with the single exception of F. V. Rockafellow, the longest in con- 
tinuous bank service of any man in Wilkes-Barre. P. M. Carhart, Cashier of 
the First National Bank, was here before Mr. Ayres, but his service has not 
been continuous. Mr. Ayres came to Wilkes-Barre in May, 187 1, and entered 
the Banking-House of F. V. Rockafellow & Company, and has remained with 
them ever since. He has held every clerical position in the bank, and has for 
several years been the Teller. Mr. Ayres is a brother of Mrs. F. V. Rockafellow 
of this city; Mrs. A. V. Nelson, Newark, New Jersey; Eugene B. Ayres, 
Audenreid; William H. Ayres and S. Ayres, Jr., Bound Brook, New Jersey. 



THE WYOMING \'ALLHV. 77 

He has been closely identified with the religious life of the community ever 
■since his coming- here ; is an elder.in the First Presbyterian Church; was for a 
number of years connecfled with the Grant Street Mission, and alout twenty 
years a member of the Young Men's Christian Association — of the latter, he has 
been eledled President several terms, and is the present incumbent of the office. 
Mr. Ayres was born at Bound Brook, New Jersey. Three of his great-grand- 
fathers served in the Revolutionary War. His great great-grandfather was 
President of the important Provincial Congress which met at Trenton in May, 
1775; was Chairman of the Committee of Safety, and he represented New Jersey 
in the Congress which met in New York from 1765 until the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence was issued, July 4. 1776. 

EDWARD E. CAMP 

Was born in Camptown, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, September 3, 1851. 
He followed farming until about 1876, when he went to Tunkhannock and 
■engaged in newspaper work, which he has since continued, making advertising 
a special study. He entered into partnership with his brother, Cyrus, and 
■established Camp Brothers' News and Advertising Bureau in Wilkes-Barre in 
1885. 

AUGUSTUS L LeGRAND, 

Born in Wilkes-Barre, August 16, 1856. Educated in the public schools of 
Wilkes-Barre. Entered in the employ of the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal 
Company- at Empire Shops, to learn the machinist's trade, in 1870, Accepted a 
position as Machinist with the Dickson Manufac5turing Company in Wilkes- 
Barre in 1875. Returned to the Empire Shops in 1878. Studied mechanical 
■engineering during leisure hours. Accepted a position as Mechanical Draughts- 
man with the Dickson Manufadluring Company of Wilkes-Barre in 1880, which 
position he still holds. Ruling Elder of the Grant Street Presbyterian Church 
and Superintendent of the .Sunday School, succeeding the late Dr. J. E. Miner 
in above position. 

S. M. BARD, 

Born on a farm in Trumbull county, of the old Western Reserve, Ohio. Was 
educated in the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. Began life as a 
teacher in home district school. Taught a number of terms in country and 
town, then spent three years on the road. Entered Young Men's Chri.stian 



78 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

Association work at Harrisburg, as Assistant Secretary. Was General Secretary 
at Pittston for six months, and has been General Secretary for six years in this 
city. 

LEWIS B. LANDMESSER, Esq., 

Was born in Hanover township, now the borough of Ashley, Luzerne county 
Penns3'lvania, March 5, 1850. He was educated at the Wilkes-Barre Institute, 
Hopkins Grammar School, New Haven, Connedticut, and at Yale College, 
graduating from the latter institution in the class of 1871. He is the son of 
Lewis Landmesser, who was among the earliest, most enterprising, and most 
successful of the German settlers of the valley, having emigrated in 1836 from 
Prussia, and who by continuous and well directed effort soon managed to place 
himself among the most prosperous and conspicuous citizens. The subjecSl of 
our sketch, after graduation, spent a year in German}' attending lecftures at 
Heidelberg and the University at Perlin, dividing the time equally between 
them. He then returned to Wilkes-Barre and entered the law office of Hon. L. 
D. Shoemaker as a .student at law. He subsequently read law with Hon. H. B. 
Payne and Hon. Stanley Woodward, and was admitted to the Luzerne county 
Bar April 5, 1875. Mr. Landmesser has made a specialty of Orphans' Court 
pracflice, in which he has been very successful. He was for three years Exam- 
iner of the Orphans' Court, and in 1888, at the request of Hon. D. L. Rhone, 
Judge of the Orphans' Court, he revised and arranged the present Rules of the 
Orphans' Court. He is a Republican in politics: has always taken an' active 
part in political affairs of the county, and for the last three years has been Chair- 
man of the Republican County Committee. He is also a prominent Mason, 
being Past Master of Lodge No. 61, F. & A. M., one of the oldest lodges in the 
State, having been constituted in 1794, and Past High Priest of Shekinah 
Chapter, No. 182, R. A. M. Appointed Postmaster of Wilkes-Barre in 1892. 

DARRYL LAPORTE CREVELING, Esq., 

The second son of Alfred T. Creveling, was born on the 7th day of October, 
1869, in Columbia county, Pennsylvania. During his early life he attended 
public school, and when old enough assisted in doing work on the farm. . At 
the age of seventeen he entered a private school at the New Columbus Academy 
and attended there nearly three years. While in attendance at this academy he 
became an acflive member, and afterward the President, of the Custos Morum 
vSociety, one of two rival societies maintained by students of this school. It was 
here that his first literary work was done, by contributing small articles to the 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 79 

Society Jo7i)nal , a paper issued every two weeks. After quitting school here he 
begau to teach public school, and taught several years, beginning at Pond Hill 
and ending at Plymouth, where he now resides. In 1885 he attended school at 
Kingston Seminary, during the fall and winter terms. Returning from Ohio in 
1886, where he was spending the summer, he married Kate J. Hice, a daughter 
of Jacob S. Hice, in' February, 1887, and in June, 1888, was admitted to pradtice 
law at the Bar of the Luzerne County Courts. He early evinced a taste for 
reading, beginning when quite young to read and study an old book he found in 
the garret, called "Chambers's Information for the People," "Don Quixote" 
and " Poor Richard's Almanac." The first book he ever purchased was a copy 
of " Byron's Poetical Works." While he has written a number of small poems 
and prose articles, he has never attempted to publish but very few of them. His 
best publications are " The Wheel of Fortune " and the " Field of Music." 

C. W. LAYCOCK, 

Born Odlober 3, i860. Educated in public schools of Shickshinny and Wyoming 
Seminary, Kingston. Entered the Second National Bank of Wilkes-Barre as 
Book-keeper, February, 1880. Elected Cashier of the Anthracite Savings Bank 
of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, May. 1890. 

TORRENCE BARNHART HARRISON 

Was born in Union township, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, November i, 1858. 
Attending the public schools of his native township until seventeen years of age, 
when he began teaching. Taught first term in Union; for next two years taught 
during winter and attended a term of school during the fall at New Columbus 
Academy; in 1877, 1S78 and 1879, taught in Plymouth township. Graduated 
from State Normal School in 1881, taking the highest honors of his class. 
Taught in public schools of Kingston borough for two j-ears, the last year as 
Principal; resigned to accept Principalship of High School at Hazleton, a posi- 
tion he held for two years, and then resigned to accept the Principalship of the 
schools of what was then the Second District of Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Harrison 
held this position until his election as Superintendent of Schools of Luzerne 
county in 1890. 

J. B. WOODWARD, Esq., 

Born at Wilkes-Barre, April 3, 1861. Educated at public schools, St. Paul's 
School, Wilkes-Barre Academy, and Yale College ; graduated from Yale in the 



8o REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

class of 1883. Studied law with A. T. McCliiitock, W. 8. McLean and Univer- 
sity of Pennsylvania Law School. Admitted to the Bar September 7, 1885. 
ALarried June 6, 1888, to Marian Hillurd, dau.tjhter of T. S. Hillard. 

GEORGE A. EDWARDS 

Is a native of Cardiff, Wales, where he was born in 1846. He came to Wilkes- 
Barre in 1881, and ever since has been one of its most industrious citizens. He 
founded the Eagle Iron Works in 1882, and it is now an important industry. 
Although Mr. Edwards has filled no public office, he is a very busy public man, 
having his hands full of social duties. He is an able platform speaker and 
wields the pen with equal ability. In business, in the church, and in philan- 
thropic enterprises he a very adlive citizen. The Cambro- American Society, an 
important organization amongst the Welsh residents, owes its present position 
to Mr. Edwards's zeal and interest in his nationality. 

JOHN T. LENEHAN. Esq., 

Born at Port Griffith. Educated under the care of the Fathers of St. Augustine, 
Delaware countj', Pennsylvania, graduating in 1870. Studied in the law depart- 
ment of the University of Pennsylvania. Admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1873. 

STEUBEN JENKINS, Esq., 

Was born in Wyoming, Luzerne county, in 1819. Educated at Oxford Academy 
and at the Academy at Bethany, Pennsylvania. Studied law with the Hon. 
Hendrick B. Wright, and admitted to the Bar in 1847. Was a partner with 
Colonel Wright for eight years. Served two j-ears in a government appointment 
in Washington. Served two terms in the State Legislature, namely, in 1856 
and 1857. In 1863 was chosen Clerk and Counsel to the Count}' Commissioners 
of Luzerne county, Pennsjdvania. Died in 1889. He left a valuable collecflion 
of historical data, Indian relics, fossils, minerals. Mr. Jenkins was a poet, his- 
torian and antiquarian. 

WILLIAM DRAKE LOOMIS, « 

Born in Wilkes-Barre, where Loomis Building now stands, August 18, 1844. 
•Son of ex-Mayor W. W. Loomis. Was educated at the Wyoming vSeniinary 
and at the Preparatory School of W. S. Parsons, and is a graduate of Crittenden 
Commercial College. He is now one of the Directors and Secretarv of the 



THE WYOMING VALLKY. 8i 

Wilkes-Barre Heat, Light and Motor Company. Served during the War on the 
United States Gunboat "Granite." He has spent a large amount of money in 
buildings in the city, having built the store at the corner of Northampton and 
Washington streets, occupied by Conyngham, Schrage & Company, and the 
Loomis Building on North Main street, and several blocks of tenement houses. 

JAMES L. LENEHAN, Esq.. 

Was born in Plj-month, Pennsylvania. Educated in the public schools ; com- 
pleted his education at the Holy Cross College, Massachusetts. Read law with 
his brother John T., and was admitted to the Bar of Luzerne count\- in 1879. 
Eledled Di.strict Attorney in 1885. 

GEORGE M. REICHARD 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsyhania, in 1834. Graduated from the Dana 
Academy. Went in the Brewing business with liis father. Went out at the 
first call for troops as Captain of Company C, 143d Pennsylvania Infantry ; was 
promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel; served until the close of the War. Went in 
partnership with his father and organized the firm of Reichard & Sons; later it 
was changed to Reichard & Company. Mr. Reichard has served as a member 
of the Cit\- Council. 

GEORGE A. WELLS, 

Born at Dandaff, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. Resident of Wilkes-Barre 
since 1865. Engaged in Real Estate, Collection and Insurance business; resi- 
dence, 66 South street. Original Secretary of the Wilkes-Barre Board of Trade ; 
also Secretary' of Wyoming Building and Loan Association, No. i and No. 2, 
for full term of both. Precentor of the Fir.st Methodi.st Episcopal Churcii for 
ten yeans. Treasurer of Wyoming Camp-Ground Association for ten years. 

G. W. ZEIGLER 

Was born in Lambertville, New Jersey, in 1855. Educated in that place. 
Entered the telegraph office of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Trenton, New Jer- 
sey; took charge of the distribution of the Company's coal for three divisions of 
that road, the Belvidere, New York and Amboy divisions; resigned after serving 
the Company for eleven years. In 1880 became proprietor of the Glenwood 
House at the Delaware Water Gap, one of the largest hotels in the country. 



82 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

In 1886 became proprietor of the L,uzerne House in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsyl- 
vania, and under his management it has secured the largest commercial trade 
of any hotel in the city. Mr. Zeigler holds the position of Volunteer Paymaster 
in the Nintli Regiment with the rank of Captain. He managed the Band Fair 
of the Ninth Regiment. A member of the Elks and Royal Societ}^ of Good 
Fellows and a Master Ma.soii. 

ASHER MINER 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, November 4, i860. Son of Hon. 
Charles A. Miner. Educated at the Wilkes-Barre Academy and at East Hamp- 
ton, Massachusetts. Direcftor of the Millers' Fire Insurance Company, and has 
served as Captain of Company D of the Ninth Regiment of the National Guards. 

GEORGE H. FLANAGAN, 

Cashier of the Wyoming Bank, was born at Lehman Center, Luzerne county, 
Pennsylvania, February 4, 1S54. Educated in the public schools; spent three 
years at Wyoming Seminarj', and graduated from the Commercial College in 1871. 
Entered the bank of J. B Wood, Flanagan & Company, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsyl- 
vania. In 1876 was eledled Cashier of the Ashley Savings Bank, and in 1882 
Cashier of the Wyoming Bank, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, which position he 
he now holds. Served as a member of the Town Council of Kingston borough 
for three years. Mr. Flanagan resides in Kingston. 

GEORGE MORTIMER LEWIS, Esq., 

Was born in Merryal, Bradford county, Pennsylvania. Graduated from La- 
fayette College in 1873. .Studied law with E. P. Darling. Is a member of the 
Luzerne Bar. Is interested in the Electric Railroads of the valley. 

EUGENE C. FRANK, 

Artist, was born at Stuttgart, Germany. Educated in that city. Studied art at 
Munich and Karlsonih. Served in the Russian navy; came to this country in 
1861 and served in the Confederate army; came North and became an Engraver 
for the Heliograph Engraving Company of New York city. Came to Wilkes- 
Barre in 1868 and edited the German Republican Co. paper. Later on engaged 
in the music business. Studied art under A. C. Howland and A. H. Wyant. 
Went to Munich and studied art under Professor A. Lier and other German 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 83 

masters. Opened a studio in Wilkes-Barre after his return. Mr. Frank has 
traveled extensivelj', aud has paid considerable attention to the study and col- 
ledling of insects. 

WESLEY ELLSWORTH WOODRUFF 

Was born in Salem, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, in 1865. Son of the Rev. J. 
O. Woodruff. Graduated at Wyoming Seminary in 1883 and Wesleyan Uni- 
versity in the class of 1887; received a degree from Wesle)-an in 1890 for a 
special course in history and political science. Served on the Record of the 
Z/wfy staff from 1887 until 1890, when he left \.\\^ Record on account of night 
work, when he became City Editor of the Evening Leader. He was during 
his college days connected with the college publications, and has at various times 
written for the New York and Philadelphia papers. Mr. Woodruff is an honor 
to his profession, and has fine literary taste. His account of the Mud Run 
disaster was an event in journalism. 

Dk. W. S. STEWART 

Was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, in 1855. Educated in the public 
schools and in the State Normal School: taught school for several years; grad- 
uated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1885. 
Located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in 18S4, Member of Luzerne county 
and State Medical Societies and the Lehigh Valley Medical Society. 

THOMAS H. ATHERTON, 

Born at Wyoming, July 14, 1853. Attended school at W5'oming and Wilkes- 
Barre until 1870. Entered Princeton University in the fall of 1870, and grad- 
uated in June, 1864. Entered the law office of Hon. Charles E. Rice in Septem- 
ber, 1874, and was admitted to the Bar in September, 1876. 

L. E. STEARNS 

W'as born in Ohio, 0<5lober 2, 1845. Removed from there with his parents when 
four years of age to Binghamton, New York, where he received a good common 
school education. At the age of nineteen he entered his father's photographic 
studio as a student, and made such rapid progress in the art that in a few years 
he was qualified to conducft successfully the large gallery in Wilkes-Barre that 
has borne his name for nearly twenty years. He is an elder in the First Pres- 



84 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

byterian Church of this city. He has also been an adlive member of the Young 
Men's Christian Association since its organization in Wilkes-Barre, and served 
one year as President of the Association. Mr. Stearns's gallery is now located 
in the new and beautiful Osterhout Block, Public square and East Market street. 

W. D. WHITE 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre in 1849; son of John White of Ashley. Educated in 
Ashley and Wilkes-Barre and graduated at Wyoming Commereial College. 
Kept books for Conyngham & Paine in Ashley. Bought out Millard Cyphers 
and organized the drug firm of W. D. White & Co. in 1870. Bought out William 
• Tuck in 1877 and conducted both places successfully. Mr. White has the confi- 
dence of the medical profession and is esteemed as a competent pharmacist. 

FRANK DEITRICK, 

Born in Carbondole, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1867. Removed with his parents 
to Wilkes-Barre when thirteen years of age. Was educated at Carbondale 
public vSchools. Appointed Assistant City Clerk in 1880; served as such until 
January, 1887, when he was eledled City Clerk, to fill vacancy caused by resig- 
nation of J. C. Bell, and has held that position since then. 

WILLIAM E. DORON 

Was born in Mount Holly, New Jersey, in the year 1843, where he resided until 
the breaking out of the Rebellion. He was at that time nineteen years of age, 
and was serving an apprenticeship at ths cabinet-making and undertaking busi- 
ness with the firm of Thomas F. Keeler & Son. He enlisted in the Twenty- 
Third New Jersey Infantry and was attached to the Fir.st New Jersey Brigade, 
Sixth Army Corps. His regiment was commanded by Colonel E. Bird Grubb, 
the present Minister to Spain. After serving out the time of enlistment, he 
came to Pennsylvania and located in Wilkes-Barre; worked at his trade as cab- 
inet-maker with Blackman & Laning, al.so at the carpenter business. In 1871 
he went to Plains, in the Company Store, on the river road from Wilkes-Barre 
to Pittston. After serving as book-keeper for four years with Amsbry & Com- 
pany, Crane & Leonard and Tozer, Crane & Leonard, he started business for 
himself at Plains, in the furniture and undertaking business, where he was suc- 
cessful for ten years. During his residence at Plains he was always closely 
identified with the interests of the town. A member of the Methodist Episcopal 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 85 

Church, and for ten successive years Superintendent of its Sunday-School. In 
1883 he came to Wilkes-Barre, leased the store in the Commercial Block, 25 
West Market street, where he remained eight years in the undertaking and music 
business. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the jiresent 
Commander of Conyngham Post of this cit}-. 

HENRY EVANS, 

Born in Wales, January 6, 1857. Came witb his parents to this county the 
same year. Was educated in the common schools. Worked in coal breakers 
and coal mines. Attended night school and graduated in Wyoming Commercial 
College. Ele<fled County Commissioner in November, 1887, and re-ele(5led 
November, 1890. 

C. BEN. JOHNSON • 

Was born in Philadelphia in 1846. W'as educated at the public schools of that 
city, Served four years during the Civil War in the io4tli Pennsylvania Volun- 
teers and Seventh United States Veteran Volunteers. Entered journalism at 
the close of the War. Edited the organs of the Miners' Union 1868-75. Came 
to Wilkes-Barre in the latter year. Was Reading Clerk of the House of Repre- 
sentatives in 1883, and Secretary of the Board of Trade 1897-91. Member of 
the House of Representatives in the latter year. During the time not here 
accounted for, was on the editorial staiTof the Wilkes-Barre Leader. 

CYRUS STRAW, 

Born in Hazleton, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, 0(5lober i, 1837. Lived all 
his life in this county. Educated at Wyoming Seminary. Lived on a farm. 
Taught school. Been in the grain and lumber business and taken an adtive 
part in politics. Served in the War of the Rebellion, Company K, Eighty-First 
Pennsylvania Volunteers. Wounded at battle of Antietam. Discharged for 
disability from wound, May, 1863. Eledled Commissioner of Luzerne in 1885, 
for a period of three years. Always adtive in public school interests. 

D. K. SPRY 

Was born in Honesdale, Pa. Educated in the public schools, and served in the 
War of the Rebellion in the Pennsylvania Cavalry. Studied pharmacy with D. 
W. Wells and George Wells of W'ilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Was for many 



86 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

years the leading druggist of Plymouth, and has been identified with nearly 
every interest of that place. He is a successful business man and deals largely 
in real estate. Holds stock in most of our large industries. He resides in 
Wilkes-Barre at the present time. 

THOMAS SMITH, 

Count}- Commissioner, was born in England. Came to this country in 1863. 
Followed mining for fifty years. Was an officer at different times in the Miners' 
Union. Ele(5ted as Commissioner of Luzerne county in 1891. 

ANDREW R. BACON 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Educated in Tioga county. Was 
the boy soprano with the old Hutchison Family (singers). Studied music with 
the celebrated Barrella of Philadelphia. Established the well known music 
house in Wilkes-Barre. Was the originator and leader of the Oratorio Society. 

WILLIAM BURNS DOW 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1850. Son of the late J. 
B. Dow, a teacher in the valley for half a century. The subjedl of this sketch 
followed the insurance business in Wilkes-Barre for twenty years, until three 
years ago, when he became proprietor of the Citj- Steam Laundry, on West 
Market street, and at the same time having some dealings in the real estate and 
insurance business. 

GEORGE H. PARRISH 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in 1820. Educated in that city, and 
has been connedled with the coal interest of the valley from early life. Was 
Superintendent of the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company for many years. 

JOSEPH J. McGINTY 

Was born in Durham, England, forty-one years ago. He came, when a boy, to 
this country, and located with his parents near Hazleton, in this State, where he 
remained until he was elecfled to the office he now enjoys. In 1874 he was 
chosen School Diredlor, and during one year of the term was Treasurer of the 
Board. He was elecfled Delegate to the Democratic State Convention which was 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 87 

held in Harrisburg in 1883, and was again sent by his fellow workinginen to 
represent them in the National Convention of the Knights of Labor at Hamilton, 
Canada, in 1885, and also at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1886. In 1886 he was ele<5led 
Recorder of Deeds for his adopted county, by an overwhelming majorit}', and 
re-eledted to the same office in 1889, when the rest of the Democratic ticket was 
defeated. 

ROBERT P. ROBINSON, 

Sheriff of Luzerne county, was born in Fairmount township, Luzerne county, 
Pennsylvania. Taught school and farmed until 1882, when he was appointed 
County Auditor by the Court ; served three years, and as Clerk of the County 
Commissioners five years. Elected Sheriff of Luzerne county in 1889 bj' a 
plurality- of 1292 votes — the first Republican Sheriff of Luzerne county. 

EDWARD GUNSTER 

Was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, November 8, 1S60. Educated in public 
and private schools and graduated from Nazareth Hall in 1876. Took a special 
course in accounting in New York city. Took charge of the books of several 
business houses in Wilkes-Barre, and in 1888 opened an office for type-writing, 
colledting, accounting and general office work, that has become the leading office 
in these lines in the State. His present offices are in the Coal Exchange, 
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. 

S. L. HAGENBAUGH, 

Born in Luzerne count}', Pennsylvania. Educated at the public schools, and at . 
an early age began farming. In 1861 he enlisted in the Seventh Pennsylvania 
Infantry, and was taken prisoner in May, 1864, and was in Andersonville and 
other Southern prisons for ten months. Mustered out of service in April, 1865. 
In 1868 he came to Wilkes-Barre, and in 1884 opened an art store in that city. 
He has the largest and the best trade in the county. He is a member of the 
Grand Arnu-. 

ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH 

Has had an organized existence of seventy-five years. Rev. Bernard Page, of Eng- 
land, was the first Protestant Episcopal minister to officiate in this sedlion, 1792. 
In 1814 Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemper, D. D., held services in the old Wilkes-Barre 
Academy. A charter was applied for and granted on 0(5lober 7, 1817, and the 



88 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

services of Rev. Richard Sharpe Ward, D. D., were secured. He was succeeded 
by Rev. Samuel Phiiniey. In 1819 Rev. Manning R. Roche became missionary 
at St. Stephen's, and the Sunday-School was organized by Hon. David Scott, 
then President Judge of this District (18 18), he being the only male communi- 
cant of the church. During 1821-22 the services were condudled by a lay mem- 
ber, Mr. Samuel Bowman. On May 2, 1821, St. Stephen's parish was admitted 
to the Convocation of Pennsylvania. In 182 1 the "Old Ship Zion," an old 
frame building ere(5led by the contributions of the various church bodies of the 
town, was sold, and the present site was purchased, and bj- the aid of Judge 
Scott a church was eredled, and in 1S24 the church was consecrated by Bishop 
White, Rev. Samuel Sitgrove being the redtor at the time. He was succeeded 
by Rev. Enoch Huntingdon, who remained until 1826. He was succeeded bj' 
Rev. James May, D. D., who remained ten years. In 1836 Dr. McCloskey be- 
came redlor, and during his ministry Hon. John N. Conyngham and Hon. 
George W. Woodward were influential communicants. He was succeeded by 
Rev. William James Clark in 1837, ^"d in 1840 he was succeeded by Rev. Robert 
Bethel Claxton, S. T. D. He resigned in 1846. Rev. Charles DeKay Cooper 
served for a few months. The next rector was Rev. George David Miles, who 
serv^ed until 1848. In 1853 Bishop Alonzo Potter laid the corner-stone of a new 
edifice, and was consecrated by Bishop Potter, April 19, 1855. Mr. Miles was 
succeeded by Rev. Robert Henr}' Williamson, who remained until 1874. In 
1874 the Vestry eledled as re(5lor Rev. Henry L. Jones, the present incumbent. 
In 1886 the increased attendance necessitated the enlargement of the building. 
On the vacant lot in the rear of the church was built a commodious and con- 
venient parish building. The old tower and the whole front having been torn 
down, the new front was built up of hard, dark brick, in a style similar to some 
of the Lombard buildings of Northern Italy. The church has now a seating 
capacity of over eight hundred. The attractiveness of St. Stephen's has been 
largely increased by the addition of loving memorials representing many of the 
leading families of this historic valley. The activity of the parish is sufficiently 
indicated by the support of six mission chapels, and the interest manifested in 
all of our local charities. 

REV. HENRY LAWRENCE JONES, M. A. 

Son of the late Rev. Lot Jones, for over thirty-three years redlor of the Church 
of the Ephiphany, New York city; born may 30, 1839. Was graduated A. B., 
Columbia College, New York, 1858; A. M., 1861; graduated Virginia Theo- 
logical Seminary, 1861. Ordained Deacon by Rt. Rev. Horatio C. Potter, D. 



THE WYOMING VAIXEY. 89 

D., LL.D.. May 24, 1861. Priest bj' same, 1863. After a year passed as assist- 
ant to his father, he became, in 1863, redlor of Christ Church, Fitchburg, Mas- 
sachusetts. In 1874 he resigned from Christ Church and accepted St. Stephen's 
Church, Wilkes-Barre, where he has been the beloved re«5lor for over seventeen 
years. He has in that time held the highest positions in the ecclesiastical aifairs 
of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, that is Examining Chaplain, 1S76-80; 
President N. W. Convocation (now Archdeaconry of Scranton), and member of 
the Board of Missions, 1876-87, when he refused re-eledlion; Deputy to the 
General Convention in 1886-91; member of the Standing Committee contin- 
uously since 1876. Mr. Jones is one of the Executive Committee of the Ameri- 
can Church Missionary Society, of which Hon. John N. Conyngham, LL-D., of 
this city, was long the President. He is also a Trustee of Osterhout Free 
Eibrary and a Vice-President of the Wj'oming Historical and Geological Society. 
He married Miss Sarah Eastman CofiSn, of Massachusetts. One of the Bishops 
who has known Mr. Jones intimatelj'. w-rites thus of him: "The present Bishop 
of New York once wrote me in a private letter: ' The Rev. Henry L- Jones is a 
prince among men.' To those who know Mr. Jones this description does not 
seem extravagant, for in the composition of his character there is a remarkable 
combination of strength and beauty. Simple and unostentatious in manner, 
there is yet something in his looks and speech and adlion that suggests a large 
reserve force, and in his administration of parochial affairs this is more than 
realized, for he is not only wise in counsel, but possesses exceptional executive 
gifts. Keeping as he always does his mental and moral equipoise, his judgment 
is asked by many people in and out of the church, and being both just and gen- 
erous, he has the confidence of all that know him. As a preacher he is thought- 
ful and instru<flive and has a becoming literary style. As a pastor he is sympa- 
thetic, adlive and unusually self-sacrificing, while as an administrator he has 
few peers. The work in St. Stephen's parish has been large and exadling, but 
his --uccess therein has been remarkable. His assistants love him as a brother, 
and the affection for him shown by his parishioners is as unusual as it is delight- 
ful. He receives and deserves the love of all who know him. 

REV. HORACE EDWIN HAYDEN, M. A., 

Son of Hon. Edwin Parsons Hayden of Maryland; horn at Catonsville, Mary- 
laud, February 18, 1837. Educated at St. Timothy's Military Academy, Mary- 
land, and Kenyon College, Ohio; honorary degree of M. A., Kenyon College, 
1886. His college course was interrupted by the War between the States, during 
which he served as a private in the Confederate States army, 1861-65. Grad- 



go REPRESENTATR'E MEN. 

uated from the Virginia Theological Seminary in 1867. Ordained Deacon by 
Rt. Rev. John John.s, D. D., LL-D., who was his cousin, June 26, 1867; Priest 
by Rt. Rev. F. M. Whittte, U. D., August 7, 1867. Redtor of Christ Church, 
Point Pleasant, Diocese of Virginia, 1867-73; of St. John's Church, West 
Brownsville, Pennsylvania, 1873-79; assistant minister of St. Stephen's Church, 
Wilkes-Barre, since November, 1879. Since 1885 Mr. Hayden has been one of 
the Examining Chaplains of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. He is a 
member of many historical and scientific societies, and has done something in 
the field of historic research. He is a member of the Board of Managers of the 
Pennsylvania Sons of the Revolution, which has about fifty members in the 
Wyoming Valley. He resides in Wilkes-Barre. 

REV. JAMES PORTER WARE, B. D., 

Born in Massachusetts, April 6, 1859. Graduated B. E. from Delaware College, 
Delaware, 1883; B. D., Episcopal Theological Seminary, Cambridge, Massa- 
chusetts, 1886. Ordained Deacon by Rt. Rev. Thomas M. Clark, D. D., EL-D., 
Rhode Island, June 19, 1886; Priest by the same, 1887. Rector at Woburn, 
Massachusetts, 1886. Manville, Rhode Island, 1887. He became assistant and 
minister of St. Stephen's Church, Wilkes-Barre; in charge of St. Peter's, Ply- 
moutli, 1888. He married, Oiftober 12, 1887, Miss Helen E. Story. He resides 
in Plymouth. 

Rev. DANIEL WEBSTER COXE, D. D., 

Graduated at Kenyon College, Ohio; A. B., 1885; A. M., 1868. Honorary 
degree of D. D., Chicago Lit. College, 1884. Ordained Deacon by Rt. Rev. 
Thomas H. Vail, D. D., LL.D., July 19, 1868; Priest by same, 1869. He was 
re(5lor of various parishes in Kansas, under Bishop Vail, until 1880. Recftor at 
Tremont, Ohio, 1880-85, and West Pittston, Pennsylvania, 1885-89. In 1889 
he became assistant minister of St. Stephen's Church, Wilkes-Barre, at Alden 
and Nanticoke. He is Secretary of the Archdeaconry of Scranton. Is married 
and has three children. He resides at Alden. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

The first Methodist itinerant in the valley was Rev. Nathaniel R. Mills, 
although Anning Owen, a blacksmith, had been licensed to exhort and had 
formed Methodist classes. George Peck was the first Methodist minister sta- 
tioned at Wilkes-Barre (1826), and a large office-room in the old Court-Honse 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 91 

was rented for ten years at a yearly rental of ten cents. In 1829 Wilkes-Barre 
became a Conference appointment, and in 1831 the Methodists became the pro- 
prietors of the old church by purchasing from the Presbyterians the property for 
$1,000. The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilkes-Barre was formally 
organized in 1830, and Rev. Charles Xash was preacher in charge. In 1836 
Ziba Bennett presented the organization a lot on North Franklin street, and the 
old church on the Square was sold and a new church was dedicated in 1846, 
which cost $8,200. The elegant edifice that now occupies the site was dedica- 
ted by Bishop Foster, October 4, 1885, and is one of the finest church edifices in 
our State, costing $75,000, with a seating capacity of one thousand three hun- 
dred. The organ, costing $4,800, was the gift of Mrs. Priscilla Bennett. 

Rkv. JOHN RICHARD BOYLE, D. D. 

The present pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilkes-Barre 
is the Rev. John Richards Boyle, D. D., who succeeded to its pulpit in Decem- 
ber, 1890. Dr. Boyle is the son of a Methodist Minister, the Rev. John A. 
Boyle, and was born in Philadelphia, June 23, 1844. He was educated in the 
public schools of that city, and under private instruction. He also learned the 
printer's trade, and in early life was for several j-ears a newspaper editor. En- 
listing in the iiith Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, in September, 1861, he 
served through the Civil War, in several grades, as an officer both of the line 
and staff. His final military rank was Captain and Assistant Quartermaster, to 
which position he was appointed by President Lincoln, and in it he was attached 
to the staffs of Generals Logan and Hazen. He was slightly wounded at the 
battle of Peach Tree Creek, Georgia, July 20, 1864, and was honorably mustered 
out of service, March 20, 1866. He was prepared for the ministry in 1869 and 
1870, and entered the Philadelphia Annual Conference of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church in March, 1871. Since then he has successively been a member of 
the Wilmington, Newark, New York and Wyoming Conferences, and has been 
pastor of several of the leading churches of the denomination. In 1880 the 
honorar)- degree of A. M., and in 1885 that of D. D., were conferred upon him 
by Dickinson College. 

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

The first efforts to establish religious worship in this valley were by the Pres- 
byterians anil Baptists following the Moravian missionaries. The first church 
was located on the Square and completed in 1810. The first minister that was 



92 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

stationed here was Rev. Jacob Johnson, a Congregationalist. In 1803 the 
organization of the Presbyterian church was completed. The pastors were 
Jabez Chadwick, James W. Woodworth, Cyrus Gildersleeve, Nicholas Murray. 
Up to tliis time the churcli had been part congregational (1833). In 1853 Rev. 
John Dorrance, D. D., was installed. He was succeeded by Rev. A. A. Hodge, 
D. D., and him by Rev. vS. B. Dodd. In i858 the present pastor, F. B. 
Hodge, D. D., began his pastorate. The magnificent church in which the con- 
now worships was completed in 1889, and cost $170,000, and has a seating 
capacity of one thousand one hundred. 

F. B. HODGE, D. D., 

Was a graduate from Princeton College in 1859, and from Princeton Theological 
Seminary in 1862. He was ordained May 9, 1863, and installed pastor of the 
Pre.sbyterian Church of Oxford, Pennsylvania. Called to the First Presbyterian 
Church, of Wilkes-Barre. In 1863 he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity 
from Princeton College, of which institution he is a Trustee, having succeeded 
his brother, the late A. A. Hodge, D. D. Dr. Hodge is one of the leading 
ministers in the Presbyterian Church. 

MEMORIAL CHURCH 

Is a branch of the First Presbyterian Church of this city (Wilkes-Barre). It 
was eredled by Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Wadhams, in memory of their three chil- 
dren who were victims of scarlet fever, in the winter of 1S71. At the laying of 
the corner-stone, July 20, 1872, a paper prepared by Mr. Wadhams and signed 
by himself and wife, was read, in which the following lines were written: 
" These children were not permitted to live long enough to exert much influence 
for good in the world. We therefore desire to enlarge that influence by eredling 
this edifice for the worship of God. We feel that as our children can no more 
speak for Jesus here, they may have a representative to do it for them ; and as 
they cannot go about doing good, the money that would have been theirs may 
be profitably spent in getting others to go about doing good for them." While 
waiting for the completion of the building, the arrangements for the organiza- 
tion of a church were made by application to the Lackawanna Presbytery and 
the request was granted. This beautiful edifice, built of Campbell's Ledge 
stone and delightfully situated, was publicly dedicated to the worship of God, 
Wednesday, April S. 1874. Rev. W. H. Swift was its beloved and successful 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 93 

pastor for ten years, when he accepted a call to the church in Honesdale, Penn- 
s\'lvania. Rev. C. R. Gregory was installed November 12, 1884. 

Rev. CASPER R. GREGORY 

Was born at Oneida, New York, Nov. 13, 1859. Graduated from Princeton 
College and Lincoln College, Oxford, Pennsylvania. Mr. Gregory came to the 
Memorial Church of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in 1884, and served his charge 
acceptably until his death, December 2, 1891. 

ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

The first church was organized in Wilkes-Barre in 1846, b}- Rev. Father Fitz- 
simmons, who attended it from a distance. It was a small frame church that 
stood on Canal street, and was abandoned on the construction of the little brick 
church which is now occupied as a parochial school. The present St. Mary's 
■was built by the late lamented Father O'Haran. 

Rev. D. O'HARAN 

Was born in the County of Fermaugh, Ireland. Prepared for College in his 
native town. Came to the United States, and entering St. Charles Borromeo 
Seminar)', Overbrook. near Philadelphia, completed his education. Ordained 
at twenty-three years of age. Served at Easton for several years. Pastor of St. 
Paul's Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and then came to Wilkes-Barre in 
1868. He died September 28, 1889, in his fifty-eighth year. 

FATHER McANDREW 

Was educated at the Holy Cross College, Worcester, Massachusetts, and at the 
Theological Seminary of St. Charles Borromeo, at Overbrook, and ordained by 
Bishop O'Hara in 1877. Redlor in Scranton for ten years, and had charge of 
St. John's Church, that city. Came to Wilkes-Barre in 1889, as pastor of St. 
Mary's Church. 

JOHN W. HCLLENBACK, 

Son of Charles F. and Ellen J. Welles, daughter of Matthias Hollenback of 
Wilkes-Barre, was born in Wyalusing, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, March 
15, 1827. He came to Wilkes-Barre in 1862, and his family moved into 



94 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

the old Hollenback homestead in 1863, on the corner of River and West 
Market street, now occupied by one of the finest, if not the finest, blocks in 
Northeastern Pennsylvania (eredled by Mr. Hollenback). He has been asso- 
ciated with many large corporations. One of the principal stockholders of the 
Bridge Companj-. A member of the Board of Trustees and a liberal contributor 
of I,afayette College for many years. He has given liberally to many institu- 
tions as well as churches and private benevolences. President of the Hollenback 
Cemetery Association, President and promoter of the new bridge, President of 
the People's Bank since the death of R. J. Flick. 

HOI.LENBACK. 

The family by this name is well ascertained to have no connecton with the 
large and widely extended family which emigrated from Holland during the 
Dutch occupation of New York, and whose patronymic has sufiered so many 
changes, being variously spelled HoUenbeck, Hallenbeck, Haulenbeek, Hallem- 
baek, etc., and occasionally Hollenback. The Wilkes-Barre family of this 
name is descended from George Hollenbach (the original and proper spelling of 
the name), who emigrated from the German Kingdom of Wurtemberg about the 
year 1717, and settled in the township of Hanover, then Philadelphia, now 
Montgomery county. He died in the year 1736; and from his will and inven- 
tory, still on file among the records of the Register of Wills in Philadelphia, we 
learn that by occupation he was a blacksmith and " Inn-hoolder," and that by 
habits of thrift and industry his family of four children were left in very 
comfortable circumstances. 

From Matthias, his eldest son, is descended a very large family, but only in 
the female line, the late Governor Hartranft being his great-great-grandson, 
through his daughter Mary Magdalena, who married George Dieter Bucher. 

From George, the 3'oungest son of the original George, is supposed to be 
descended a large family in Berks and the adjoining counties; but the links of 
descent have not been traced in this connedlion. 

John Hollenback, the second son of the original immigrant, removed from his 
birthplace in Montgomery county to the Lebanon Valley, then Lancaster county, 
as early as 1750, settling in Lebanon township, not far from Jonestown. By his 
wife, Eleanor Jones, he had children: (i) George, married Hannah Barton, and 
had eleven children, who, all but one, settled in the Western States. From this 
George are descended Charles W. Hollenback, Mrs. Jerome G. Miller and Mrs. 
Edward Welles, all of Wilkes-Barre ; (2) Jane, married David Hunter, Virginia; 
(3) Matthias, otherwise known as Judge Hollenback, whose children were Mrs. 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 95 

Mar}- Ann Laning, Mrs. Charles F. Welles, Mrs. Jacob Cist (afterwards Mrs. 
Chester Butler), and the late George M. Hollenback, Esq., of Wilkes-Barre; 
(4) John, of Mill Creek, great-grandfather of the late John M. Hollenback of 
Mill Creek and Wilkes-Barre; (5) Mary Ann, who was keeping house for her 
brother Matthias before the battle of Wyoming, and who escaped to Virginia on 
horseback, and there married William Cherry. She is the ancestress of a very 
nnmerous family, scattered over many of the Western States. 

Matthias Hollenback, well known for sixty years in the history of Wyoming 
Valley, was only seventeen years of age when he came here from the Lebanon 
Valley in the year 1769, and took a share in the township of Hanover, under 
the Connecfticut claim. His sum-total of educational advantages was comprised 
in a course of five or six weeks at one of the country schools of that period. 
Being a born man of business, he at once entered into merchandise in a small 
way, at first within the walls of a stockade at or near the mouth of Mill Creek. 
During the Revolutionary War he enlisted in one of the two companies raised 
at Wyoming for frontier defense, and which were afterwards drawn into the 
service of the Continental army, his commission from Congress being as Ensign, 
dated August 26, 1776. During the campaign of 1777 he served at various 
engagements in New Jersey, in particular at the battles of Elizabethtown and 
Monmouth. When the rumors of the invasion of Wyoming by the Tories and 
Indians under Colonel John Butler became alarming, and Congress was unable 
to afford protedlion, many of the Wyoming settlers in the Continental service 
were allowed to return home for defense. Hollenback was one of the number, 
and served as Ensign, with the good fortune to escape with his life by swimming 
the river near Monockonock island. On the following day, July 4, 177S, having 
hurried off during the night to meet Captain Spalding, who was on the way to 
Wyoming with reinforcements, he saw from the top of the Wilkes-Barre moun- 
tain his own house and store in flames, and had to abandon the idea of trying to 
save anything out of the general wreck. His trading interests had been carried 
on during his service in the army by his younger brother John; and there is in 
existence an inventory of the losses of the firm through the invasion of Butler, 
amounting to ^671 3s. The books of the firm of Matthias and John Hollenback 
are still in existence, having been sent down the river in a boat previous to the 
battle. 

Matthias Hollenback' s earliest commissions in the civil service are dated May 
II, 1787, one being as Justice of the Peace and the other as Justice of the County 
Court of Common Pleas, or "Justice of the Quorum." These are signed by 
Benjamin Franklin, President of the Supreme Executive Council. On the 17th 
August, 1791, he was commissioned as Associate Judge, a position which he 



96 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

filled until his death in 1829. He was also several times commissioned as Lieut- 
enant-Colonel of the Militia, both by Franklin and Governor Mifflin. 

During his long business life, Colonel Hollenback stood easily at the head of 
business in this frontier neighborhood, his operations extending far and wide, 
through the Susquehanna Valley and reaching far into the State of New York. 
He established trading posts at several points in the Wyoming Valley, at Wya- 
lusing, Wysox and Tioga Point, in what is now Bradford county, and also at 
Newtown (now called Elmira), New York. And along with trade went the 
acquirement of farming or timber lands, and the manufacflure of flour, lumber, 
distilled liquors, paper, 'etc., in the prosecution of which numerous industries he 
displayed an energy and untiring industry that has few parallels at the present 
time. The season of the j'ear and the condition of the weather or roads were 
not facflors in determining any question of duty. Earl}' and late, in heat and 
frost, rain or snow, he was alwa3's at the post of duty, until nature gave out 
and the time came to rest from his labors. Says Dr. Egle, in his Historj- of 
Pennsylvania: "He made many toilsome journeys on horseback through the 
wilderness to points as widely apart as Philadelphia and Niagara, encountering 
countless perils and hardships. Through all these experiences, in peace and 
war, he showed unfaltering bravery and sound judgment. On Fel.ruary 18, 
1829, he died. His only son. Colonel George M. Hollenback, inherited his 
father's positive qualities, and was successful in developing the family estate and 
amassing great wealth." 

Of this son. Colonel George M. Hollenback, it may be said that his lines were 
cast in pleasanter places. Born to the possession of competence, and flourishing 
in times of comparative luxury and refinement, he was not forced to endure 
such fatigues and privations as were the lot of his ancestors. Yet he did not 
adl upon the conclusion that the goods of life were safely his, and that he had 
naught to do but enjoy them. On the contrary, he took up the burdens of life 
long before his honored sire had laid them down ; and through a business career 
of about the same duration, he was hardly less assiduous and untiring than had 
been the parent to whom he owed his start in life. His concerns, if less ex- 
tended, were even larger in mass than those of his father, and were conducfted 
with the same careful prudence, judgment and energy that made the career of 
Matthias Hollenback so memorable. He began his business life at the corner of 
River and Market streets, Wilkes-Barre, about the year 1816, which was also 
the year of his marriage to Miss Emily Ivindsley. This was the theater of most 
of his business achievements; but he had other establishments for business, and 
his operations were everywhere upon a generous scale. Among his business 
associates were such well-known and honored names as Bennett, Butler, Reets, 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 97 

Elick, Sterling, Arnot of Eltnira, etc. For many years he was at the head 
of business affairs in the Wyoming Vallej-, as his father had been before 
him. Prompt and accurate in all his dealings, he expected the same qualities 
in all his associates and emploj'es, and nothing vexed him more than any care- 
less derelidlion of duty or disposition to waste. Ever faithful to his friends, he 
never forgave an act of treachery; and being once deceived, his confidence was 
gone forever. His dignified walk, his courteous salutation, his deference to age 
and worth, without regard to station, are all memories still among many friends 
and acquaintances who knew him in life, and who still survive. Born August 
II, 1791, after a busy and useful life of seventy -five years he died suddenly of 
heart disease, in full harness, and in the full possession of his faculties, Novem- 
ber 7, 1S66, leaving a second wife, but nochildren to follow him to his rest in the 
beautiful cemetery of which he was the founder; and leaving, moreover, the 
memory of an honorable name, and a character without reproach. 

JOHN B. REYNOLDvS 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, August 5, 1850. Educated at W)'0- 
ming Seminary and Lafayette College. Admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1875. 
Built the North street iron bridge across the Susquehanna above Wilkes-Barre, 
and opened it in 1878. Organized and built the West Side electric road. Ran 
for Congress in 1890, but was defeated. 

ROBERT BAUER, 

Publisher of the Democratic Wackier, was born in Germany in 1825, and came 
to the United States in 1848. 

ADOLPH BAUER, 

Son of Robert Bauer, born and educated in Wilkes-Barre, and is a partner with 
his father in the printing business. Thej- have one of the best equipped printing 
offices in this se(5tion. Mr. Bauer is well known as a singer. 

SAMUEL HOYT, 

Son of Elias and Mary Weston Hoyt, was born in Kingston, Luzerne county, 
Pennsylvania, November 2, 1815, and died 0(5tober 7, 1875 ; buried at Forty 
Fort cemetery. Mr. Hoyt was a cousin of ex-Governor Hoyt. Mr. Hoyt was 
regarded as one of the solid men of the Wyoming Valley. After completing his 



98 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

studies, he assisted his father as county- surve3'or and continued in this line for 
many years. This work made him familiar with the properties and industrial 
interests of Lvizerne county, so that he became an authority as to title and own- 
ership, both of surface and coal lands. He became identified with coal interests 
and railroads, and was intimately associated in these with Mr. Abram Nesbitt. 
His name and life are interwoven with the history and prosperity of Kingston 
and the Wyoming Valley. Mr. Hoyt was a man of strong convictions in poli- 
tics as well as business, but his modesty forbade any proclamation of them. 

THOMAS R. MARTIN, Eso 

Educated at Mercersburg, Franklin and Marshall College, and graduated in 
1874. Began pracfticing law in Wilkes-Barre in 1876. He was a candidate for 
nomination for Congress and for Districft Attorney of Luzerne county. Mr. 
Martin's office is at 14 South Franklin street. 

CHARLES F. COOK, 

The oldest Photographer in Wilkes-Barre, was born in Newburg, New York, in 
1834. He served in the War of the Rebellion. 

W. P. RYMAN, Esq., 

Was born at Dallas, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, August 23, 1S47. Was 
educated at the common schools in Dallas, at Wyoming Seminary and at Cornell 
University, from which last named institution he is a graduate of the class of 
1 87 1. He also took a post graduate course in law at the Harvard University 
Law School in the years 1871-72, and was admitted to the Luzerne County Bar 
September 20, 1873, since which time he has continued adtively engaged in the 
pradlice of law at Wilkes-Barre. Though a pronounced Republican in politics, 
he has never sought or received any political office. He is identified with and 
interested in several important business enterprises in this cit}' and elsewhere. 
He was tlie original promotor of the organizations which led to the first intro- 
du(5lion of the telephone and eledlric light in the city of Wilkes-Barre. He was 
married in December, 1879, at Freeport, Illinois, to Miss Charlotte M. Rose, 
daughter of George P. Rose, now of Funton, Michigan, a native of New York 
State, and descendant of Dr. Rose of Binghamton, New York, for whom the 
town of Montrose, Pennsylvania, was named. Charlotte M. Rose was educated 
at Dansville and Elmira, New York, and at Packer Institute, Brooklyn, New 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 99 

York. They have two children, Roselys and Emily, both of whom are attend- 
ing Miss Rockwell's School on Franklin street in Wilkes-Barre. The subjedl 
of this sketch is a descendant of German ancestry. His great-grandfather, 
George Ryman, a native of Warnebrum, Prussia, came to America in the year 
1750, and settled in New Jersey, near Easton, Penns5'lvania. His wife was 
Katherine Matley, by whom he had five children. Of these, Peter, the grand- 
father of W. P. Ryman, was born in the j-ear 1776. He was married to Mary 
Sweazy, daughter of Richard Sweazy, and lived near Hope, New Jersey, for 
several years, where five of his children were born. In 1812 he moved to Dallas, 
lyuzerne county, Pennsylvania, where he bought and settled on the farm which 
is still in the possession and ownership of his descendants. Here three more 
children were born, of whom Abram Ryman, the father of the subject of this 
sketch, was one. He was born August 21, 1817, and at the age of seventeen 
started in an adlive business career as lumberman and merchant, which continued 
without interruption for about fortj^ years. He was a man of spotless integrity 
and was identified with everj- progressive enterprise of his time and vici^it3^ 
He possessed a mavelous business energy that never failed him until the final 
breaking up, just prior to his death in 1873. He established t'ne firm of A. 
Rj'man & Sons, which is still carried on in the old name by those of his children 
who are the present members thereof. He left children — Mary E., now inter- 
married with C. M. Maxwell of the citj' of New York; Theodore F. Rvman, 
now living in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and head of the firm of A. Ryman & 
Sons of Wilkes-Barre and Dallas; W. P- Ryman, Ruth E. Ryman and Leslie S. 
Ryman of Wilkes-Barre, Penn.sylvania : John P. Ryman of Dallas, Pennsylvania, 
and Fred. S. R3'man of Boston, Massachusetts. 

LEWIS H. TAYLOR, M. D., 

Born at Taylorsville. Bucks county, Pennsylvania, July 29, 1850. Received 
preliminarj- education in the common schools. Graduated at Millersville State 
Normal School in July, 1S71, having previously taught two terms in the school 
which in boyhood he attended. Began teaching in Wilkes-Barre, as Principal 
of Franklin Grammar School, in September, 1S71, which position he held till 
1874, when he was elecfted Principal of the High School. Remained in this 
position till 1877, when he withdrew to begin the stud}' of medicine. Graduated 
at the University of Pennsylvania in 1880, and took a post graduate course in 
diseases of the eye and ear. Settled in Wilkes-Barre in 1880, where he has since 
practiced continuously with the exception of seven months spent in special study 
in Europe. Married in June, 1884, to Emily B. Hollenback. Two children. 



loo REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

Has been Medical Tnspedlor for the State Board of Health since 1885. One of 
the attending phj'sicians of the Wilkes-Barre City Hospital since 1884, and now 
ophthalmologist to the same. Received the honorary degree of A. M. from 
Lafayette College in 1S91. Member of the American Medical Association, 
Pennsylvania State Medical Society, Lehigh Valley Medical Association, Lu- 
zerne County Medical Society, Philadelphia Pathological Society, American 
Ophthalmological Society. Trustee of Osterhout Library, Wyoming Seminary 
and of Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. 

NATHANIEL RUTTER, 

The subjedl of this sketch, was born at Pequea Valley, Lancaster county, Penn- 
sylvania, in November, 1806. and is now in his eighty-sixth year. His father, 
Adam Rutter, died when he was four years of age, leaving his mother in humble 
circumstances and with several young children to provide for. Mr. Rutter 
spent the first ten years of his life on a farm. At ten years, of age he went into 
a store at Columbia, Pennsylvania, to clerk. At the age of nineteen (1825), 
he came to Wilkes-Barre, and was given a position in Matthias Hollenback's 
office, which still stands on South Main street nearly opposite the Judge Ross 
mansion. Mr. Rutter afterward clerked for Ziba Bennett, and was a partner of 
the firm of Haff, Rutter & Scott. In 1.S33 he entered into partnership with 
George M. Hollenback, and in 1846 dissolved the same, he taking possession of 
the store corner Market and Franklin streets, up to 1888, when he sold out to- 
Dodge & Speer. Mr. Rutter is a man of remarkable, regular, temperate and 
industrious habits, and far more robust and acflive than many men at fifty. He 
was a member of the Borough and City Councils for years, and is an honored 
member of the Presbyterian Church, and President of the Miners' Savings Bank. 
When he arrived in Wilkes-Barre, it was not more than a country village and 
contained but a few hundred persons ; and it must be more than gratifying for 
him to note the different changes that have been wrought in the mode of steam 
engineering, eledlricit)-, and improvements in the Nineteenth Centurj-. 

Hon. ELIJAH CATLIN WADHAMS, 

Born at Plymouth, Pennsylvania, ]u\y 17, 1825. Was educated at Dana College, 
Wilkes-Barre, Dickinson College, and the University of the City of New York, 
graduating from the latter institution in 1847. From this time until 1873 he 
lived in Plymouth, engaging in commercial pursuits and in mining and shipping 
coal. He was Justice of the Peace for twenty years and Burgess for seven years. 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. loi 

In 1873 he moved to Wilkes-Barre. He was for many years a Diredlor of the 
Wyoming National Bank, and at the time of his death, January 18, 1889, was 
President of the First National Bank of Wilkes-Barre. In 1876 he was eledled 
to the Senate of Pennsylvania and was highly praised for the work he did while 
a member of that body. He was also a prominent Mason, being one of the 
charter members of Plymouth Lodge. Hon. E. C. Wadhams combined a liberal 
education and culture with a high .standard of manhood, tempered with that 
essential facflor, common sense. He was respected bj- all for his integrity, his 
Christian faith and his earnest and successful work in the church with which he 
was identified. 

GEORGE W. GUTHRIE, -M. D., 

Was born at Guthrieville, Chester county, Pennsylvania, on the 28th of Jan- 
uary, 1845. Educated in the public schools and at Millersville State Normal 
School. Studied medicine under the care and direcftion of Dr. Edward R. Mayer 
and attended ledtures at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, and the 
University of Pennsylvania. Diploma from the latter institution bears date of 
March 13, 1873. Located for the pracflice of medicine in Wilkes-Barre June 13, 
1873. Member of the Luzerne County Medical Society and of the Medical 
Society of the State of Pennsylvania. One of the attending physicians of the 
Wilkes-Barre City Hosp'tal. For thirteen years was a member of the School 
Board of the old Third District ; at present a member of the Consolidated Board 
of Six. 

H. HARRISON HARVEY 

Was born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, in the year 1840. He entered school in 
Middletown, Conne<5licut; afterward attended Edge Hill School in Princeton, 
New Jersey, and finished his education at Franklin and Marshall College, Lan- 
caster, Pennsj'lvania. He was called home in the beginning of his senior year 
to assume the duties as Manager of the Harvey Mines at Nanticoke, to take the 
place of his brother, who had enlisted in the army. In the year 1863 the firm 
of Harvey Brothers (composed of J. and H. H. Harvey) was formed for the pur- 
pose of mining and shipping coal from the Harvey Mines, one of the oldest 
mines in the vallej'. This business was continued until 1872, when the mine 
was sold to the Susquehanna Coal Companj-. The firm was also engaged in the 
lumber business, and continued in that until 18S6, when they sold out their 
mills and timber land. Real Estate was also carried along with their other 
interests, and eventually it developed to such an extent that they are 



I02 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

now probably, outside of the coal corporations, the largest owners of tenement 
houses in the valley. H. H. Harvey has the supervision of all the real estate 
conne<5led with the firm, and he is also identified with many other enterprises 
and corporations. He is ver}- largely interested in the Wilkes-Barre and Wyo- 
ming Valley Traction Companj-, a Life Member and Trustee of the Wyoming 
Historical and Geological Society, and a Direcftor in the following corporations: 
Wilkes-Barre Eleclric Light Company, Wyoming Valley Ice Company, First' 
National Bank of Plymouth, Plymouth Water Company, Plymouth Light, Heat 
and Power Company, Hunlock's Creek and Muhlenburg Turnpike Company, 
etc. Mr. Harvey takes great interest in blooded stock and owns some of the 
finest trotting-bred stock of horses in the State. He is President of the Horse 
Breeders' Association of Eastern Pennsylvania, and has done much to promote 
its welfare. 

SELIGMAN J. STRAUSE, Esq., 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Graduated from the College of New 
York city. Studied law with H. W. Palmer, Esq., of Wilkes-Barre, and was 
admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1875. 

FRANCIS M. NICHOLS, Esq., 

Born at Smithfield, Pennsylvania. Educated in the State University of Kansas. 
Admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1873. Filled the position of District Attorney 
by appointment, 1879. Mr. Nichols is well known as a man of fine literary 
taste. Eledted Mayor of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in 1892. 

GEORGE LOVELAND, Esq., 

Was born in Kingston, November 5, 1823. Educated at the Dana Academy, 
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and Lafayette College. Studied law with General 
E. W. Sturdevant, and was admitted to the Bar of Luzerne county in 1848. 

JOHN LANING 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, October 7, 1836. His father was A. 
C. Laning and mother \manda E. Laning, now deceased. His education was 
received at the old Academy on the Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, preparatory to 
his entering Lafayette College in 1854. After a three years' course at that 
institution he entsred Union College at Schenedtady, New York, and graduated 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 103 

from the latter in 1S58. Immediately following his graduation he was employed 
as draftsman and afterward as book-keeper for Laning & Marshall at their 
machine shop on Canal street, now the Dickson Manufacturing Company. He 
was a member of the Town Council the year Wilkes-Barre became a city. On 
the igtli of September, 1S65, he was married to Helen C. Brower, in New York 
cit}'. From iS65 to 1879 he was engaged in the lumber business, running a 
planing mill in connedlion with his lumber yard. In 1880 he became Superin- 
tendent of the Hollenback Coal Company, and held that position until 1887, 
when he retired from active business life. He has been conspicuous in improv- 
ing the city of Wilkes-Barre, notably, in erecting the Laning Building. He is 
a Director in the Miners' Savings Bank, the Wilkes-Barre Bridge Company and 
the Wilkes-Barre and Kingston Street Railroad. 

FRED. AHLBORN 

Was born in the kingdom of Bavaria. Educated in the governmeut schools. 
Came to this country in 1851, and engaged in the manufacturing business in 
Pottsville, Pennsj'lvania. Came to Wilkes-Barre in 1859, and engaged in the 
manufacture of soap. In 1871 established a meat business that has become the 
largest in this section. 

D. O. COUGHLIN, Esq., 

The subject of this sketch, is a native of Luzerne county. He is what is called 
a self-educated man; that is, he was not sent to school, but went to school, and 
paid his own way. He was for several years a teacher in both public and 
private .schools. He was principal of the New Columbus Male and Female 
Academ5' five j-ears. Subsequently he attended the National School of Oratory 
in Philadelphia, and later entered as a law student in the office of A. Ricketts. 
In 1882 he was admitted to the Luzerne Count}' Bar. He completed the course 
of instruction in the Valparaiso Law School and was graduated with honors in 
18S4. Married soon after and took up his residence in Luzerne, Pennsylvania. 
Since that time he has been pradlicing law in this count}-. He served as Deputy 
Revenue Collecflor four years under Cleveland's administration, and filled the 
position with credit to himself and satisfaction to his superiors. 

C. B. SUTTON, 

Was born in Exeter township, Luzerne county, on the 9th day of July, 1830. 
Was the son of Samuel Sutton, who was drowned in the Susquehanna river in 



I04 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

1S42. Removed from Exeter to Kingston in (846. Attended school at W)'o- 
ming Seminary during the years of 1848-9-50. Removed to Wilkes-Barre in 
1853. Was clerk in his brother's store on North Main street until 1861, when 
he enlisted int he band of the Fifty-Second Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry, 
under Colonel Henry M. Hoyt. After retiring from the army, was clerk for his 
brother for several years. Was elected Alderman of the Twelfth Ward of the 
city in 1S74; re-eledted in 1879 and 18S4. Was eledled Mayor of the city in 
1886, against seven other competitors; was re-elecfted in 1S89, running as an 
independent candidate against ex-Sheriff William O'Malley, Democratic candi- 
date, and Colonel B. F. Stark, Republican candidate, and received sevent\--one 
votes as many as the two other candidates together. 

SAMUEL S. JONES 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Educated in the public schools. 
Entered the store of T. H. Jones of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and later the drug 
store of Millard Cyphers of Wilkes-Barre. Graduated in 1886 from the Phila- 
delphia College of Pharmacy. Is at the present time partner of Nat. Wolf in 
the only wholesale drug house in this secftion. 

WIELIAM J. HARVEY 

Was born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, November 13, 1S38. Educated at Wyo- 
ming Seminary and Princeton College. Served in the late War in the Seventh 
Regular Pennsylvania Reserves. President and Manager for many years of the 
Kingston and Wilkes-Barre Street Railroad; President of the West Side Driving 
Park; President of the Wyoming Valley Lace Mills; Dire(5lor of the Miners' 
Savings Bank; member of the firm of Harvey Brothers, lumber and real estate. 

J. W. RAEDER 

Was born Noveml-er 8, 1858, at White Ha\-en. His parents came to Wilkes- 
Barre when he was but six months of age. When but seven years of age his 
father died, leaving him the oldest of four children. From that moment the 
struggle of life began. He will be recalled as the boy who could be seen on our 
streets every morning with his cronk beer hand-wagon, as it was in this way 
that he and his mother supported the family for a number of years. Various 
occupations were followed until he became fourteen years old, when he started 
out in the old Record of the Times Bindery, Odlober 21, 1872. as an apprentice. 
April 6, 1881, he started in for himself, employing but two hands. To-day he 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 105 

has the largest plant outside of the larger cities, employing twenty-four hands. 
His specialty is blank books of every description. He is the Recording Secre- 
tary of the Young Men's Christian Association, Secretary of the First Presbyte- 
rian Sunday-School and a member of various other organizations. 

MOSES H. BURGUXDER 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in 1S54. Educated in the public 
schools and Wyoming Seminary. Manager of Music Hall, Wilkes-Barre ; 
Scranton Academy of Music, an-d the Halls of Hazleton, Reading, Allentown 
and Wiiliamsport. 

G. TAYLOR GRIFFIN, 

Born at Moscow, Pennsylvania. His .school days were passed at Meshoppen, 
Pennsylvania. Commenced photography at Meshoppen ; opened a gallery at 
Tunkhannock ; came from there to Wilkes-Barre, and from there to Pittston, and 
in May, 1890, established with C. F. Colburn the well-known gallery, 117 
Public Square, Wilkes-Barre. 

CHARLES H. JACOBS, 

Secretary of the Republican County Committee, is one of the best known young 
men in politics in Luzerne county, having been vSecretary of the Third Legisla- 
tive District for four years, becoming Assistant Secretary of the County Com- 
mittee in 188S and Secretary in 1891. Mr. Jacobs was born in New York city 
January 13, 1862, coming to Wilkes-Barre with his parents in 1867, and going 
thence to Plymouth in 1879, where he joined his father in the merchant tailor- 
ing business, being a cutter by profession. He is a self-made young man, 
having attended the public schools of Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Jacobs is very popular 
with the young men. being an enthusiast in all things athletic, military and 
theatrical. He was eledled President of the Central Pennsylvania Rowing Asso- 
ciation at Sunbury in 1891 ; Sergeant of Company I, Ninth Regiment N. G. P.,. 
since its organization, and being Vice-President of the Plymouth Fire Depart- 
ment. 

Rev. Prof. P. A. HUBERT 

Is the pastor of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church on Northampton 
street. He was born and educated in Antigua, British West Indies. For five 
years he held a professorship of one of Her Majesty's government schools in the 



io6 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

Island of Dominica, British West Indies. At the end of that time he entered 
the Wesleyan ministry. His sight failing him in 1884, he wa.s sent to try the 
services of Dr. Knapp, the oculist of New York city. He filled two very im- 
portant ofRces in Rochester, New York, as amanuensis in the employ of H. H. 
Warner and James E. Briggs, of the lyawyers' Co-Operative Publishing Com- 
pany. He is well known and popular in this city and very successful in church 
work. 

THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAI. ZION CHURCH 

Of Wilkes-Barre, was established March 13, 1844, nearly forty-eight years, and 
consequently one of the oldest churches in the city. The present edifice is a 
new one, the old having given place to it six years ago. The church will be 
dedicated on the first of May, 1892. The present pastor is Rev. P. A. Hubert. 

HENRY BEACKMAN PLUMB, Esq., 

Was born in Hanover township, Luzerne county, March 13, 1829. Educated 
in the common schools of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Studied law under 
Balemy L. Maxwell, and admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1859. Mr. Plumb is 
largely interested in real estate. Autlior of the "History of Hanover Town- 
ship." 

JOHN HARTWELL MULKEY 

Was born at Rush, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania. Was educated at the 
Wyoming Seminary. He is in the mercantile business in West Pittston. He 
has written many descriptive and religious verses. 

Rev. THEOPHILUS JONES, 

Born in Caerphilly, South Wales, Great Britain. Baptist minister. Eighty- 
two years o^ age. Landed in New York in June, 1843. Began to preach when 
he was eighteen years old. He preaches still, it is said, as well as ever and 
with all the fervor and force of youth. His unusually long ministry has been 
about evenly divided among Welsh and English churches. He is a fluent, 
forcible and eloquent speaker, and verj- popular as a preacher, especially among 
the Welsh people. Kind, S3'mpatlietic and benevolent in a marked degree ; 
faithful, courageous and true in all the relations of life. A resident of Wilkes- 
Barre for twenty years, he is universally respe(5led here, and beloved by all who 



THE WYOiMING VALLEY. 107 

Tiave knov\n him intimately; and this has always been true of him throughout 
his long and useful life. Thus far death has never entered his immediate house- 
hold, nor that of his children. His wife and two children, D. M. Jones the 
attorney, and Mrs. M. Jennie Reed, and his three grand-children, two daughters 
and a son of D. M. Jones, are all living; and never was more faithful husband 
and father, nor fonder grandfather, than the venerable Rev. Theophilus Jones. 

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MYERS. 

Chief-of-Police, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was born in that city in 1846. 
Educated in the public schools. Worked on his grandfather's farm until his 
seventeenth year. Enlisted in the Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry and served 
until the close of the War. Was a carpenter until he was appointed on the 
police force of Wilkes-Barre as Patrolman, and served eight years ; then was 
appointed Chief of-Police, a-nd has filled that position for twelve years. 

Hon. ROBERT H. McKUNE 

Was born in Newburgh, New York, August 19, 1823. Attended school until 
his thirteenth year, and then began active business life as a baker. In 1849 
removed to California. Settled at Susquehanna, Pennsylvania ; later at Bing- 
hamton. New York ; removed to Scranton in 1S62. Served in the Civil War, 
having charge of the advance guard on the Williamsport road, and was conspic- 
uous as a member of the Secret Service. Entered on a general insurance busi- 
ness in Scranton after his return. Elected Mayor of Scranton in 1875. At the 
present time condudting an insurance business in Wilkes-Barre. 

THOMAS C. PARKER 

Was born in England, March, 1846. Came to this country during the Civil 
War and located at Newark, New Jersey. Later came to Wilkes-Barre. He 
has established one of the largest jewelr}' businesses in the cit}'. He is a mem- 
ber of many local societies, and is very often chosen orator on public occasions. 
He is also a fluent writer. 

EDWARD HENRY CHASE, Esq., 

Was born at Haverhill, Massachusetts, February 28, 1835. Graduated from 
Union College, Schenedtadj-, New York, 1855. Taught one j'ear in Wells Col- 
lege. Came to Wilkes-Barre in 1856. Admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1859. 



io8 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

Went to the front with the Wyoming Light Dragoons. In 1863 married Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Hon. Adam Taylor. Appointed Postmaster of Wilkes- 
Barre in 1865. In 1868 was chosen Secretarj- and Attorney of the Borough 
Council; City Clerk and Attorney in 1871-72-73. Colledtor of Internal Revenue 
from 1873 until 1885. 

W. P. MORGAN, 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre, March 22, 1855. Beginning a business career at 
the age of twenty-one, has been a successful business man ever since. Is asso- 
ciated with J. T. Morgan, his brother, in the wholesale shoe business. The 
Morgan Brothers have lately opened up the large tradt of land at South Wilkes- 
Barre known as the Lee Park tradt, and have been very successful with it. 

R. B. RICKETTS. 

Educated at Wyoming Seminary. Commanded a battery of light artillery in 
the late War ; promoted to Major and also Colonel of Artillery. Democratic 
candidate for Lieutenant-Governor in 1886. Director of the Osterhout Free 
Librar)-. Member of the Sons of the American Revolution. 

Rev. peter H. BROOKS 

Was born near the city of SchenedtadA', New York. At the age of sixteen he 
united with the Presbyterian Church in that cit}-, under the pastorate of Rev. 
Trumball Backus, D. D., LL-D. He attended Union College. Graduated at 
Princeton Theological Seminary, New Jersey, 1864. Was ordained and installed 
pastor of the Presbyterian Church at West Milton, Saratoga county. New York, 
July 13, 1865. He has been nineteen years pastor of the Presbyterian Church 
in Susquehanna, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania. For fifteen years he has 
been Clerk in Lackawanna Presbytery. Two of these years he was Temporarj^ 
Clerk, then five j-ears Permanent Clerk, and eight years Stated Clerk, which 
position he still holds, in conne<5lion with his recent appointment as Presbyterial 
Missionary in the seven eastern counties of Pennsylvania, having his residence 
in Wilkes-Barre. 

CHARLES DORRANCE LINSKILL 

Was born in Lehman, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, April 10, 1840. He 
attended the public and selecft schools of Lehman and Huntsville and also 
assisted in the labors ou the farm until sixteen years of age, when he entered a 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 109 

store as a clerk. For sixteen years he was salesman, book-keeper and foreman 
in stores of Wyoming Valley. Since 1873 he has been constantly engaged in 
the newspaper business in this county. In the fall of 1880 he started the Wilkes- 
Barre Telephone, which is now a paper of large circulation and considerable 
influence. In 1887 Mr. Linskill made a very pleasant tour through the British 
Isles and France, and since his return he has published a history of his Euro- 
pean trip in a book, entitled "In Lands Beyond the Sea," which has had an 
excellent sale and is very highh' commended by hundreds of worthy people. 
We understand that he proposes to publish other works. 

Dr. ALEXANDER P. O'MALLEY, 

Born in Ireland, August 22, 1853. Son of James O'Malley of New Haven, 
Connedlicut. Was educated at Seton Hall College, New Jersey, and graduated 
in medicine at the University Medical College of New York. March, 1875. He 
is second to none in the count}- among his brethren in the medical profession. 
He has been in this countx- since 1875. and is one of the most successful in his 
line. He is a member of the Luzerne Count}- Medical Society, and resides at 
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. 

W. H. PUTNAM 

Was born in the town of Hartwick, Otsego county, New York, October 15, 1854. 
Until he was sixteen he worked on a farm, attending district school during the 
winter. In the fall of 1872 he entered Hartwick Seminary with the intention of 
preparing for college and of taking a college course. After remaining in Hart- 
wick Seminary for some time and preparing to enter Pennsj-lvania College, he 
entered the work of teaching in New Jersey, having, how-ever, taught his first 
term at Clintonville, New York. He was principal of the school at Otego, New 
York, four years, during the most of which time he was a student in the law 
office of Hon. L. E. Bowe. While living in Otego he was elected to a Profess- 
orship in the Wyoming Seminarj^, having charge of the Normal Department and 
making a specialty of Rhetoric. In 1884, Pennsylvania College conferred upon 
him the degree of M. A. About this time, having determined to carry out his 
original plan of a college education, he was admitted to the post-graduate 
department of the Illinois Wesleyan University, and pursued a four years' course 
of historj- and philosoph}-, taking regular examinations and graduating in June, 
1890, having earned two degrees. Master of Arts and Dodlor of Philosophj'. In 
j888 he became Principal of the Schools of West Pittston, one of the finest posi- 



no REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

tions in the State. In the spring of 1S91 he resigned, to enter the publishing 
business in New York city. Besides his educational work, he lias written for 
educational papers and contributed to the stock of general literature. Dr. 
Putnam is trulj' a self-made man, having pushed his way to prominence through 
his own unaided efforts. 

Dr. REESE DAVIS, 

Born at Warren, Bradford county, Pennsjdvania, July 5, 1837. Received a 
common school education. Prepared for college at Owego Academy and Susque- 
hanna Collegiate Institute at Towanda, Pennsylvania. Attended Marietta 
College, Ohio, one year, and graduated at Hamilton College, Clinton, New 
York, in 1863. Attended the Medical Department of Michigan University one 
year; graduated at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, in 1867. 
I,ocated in 1867 in LeRaysville, Bradford count}'. Penns3dvania. Removed in 
1S67 to Scranton and pradliced there two years (at Providence). Settled in 
Wilkes-Barre in 1871, where he has pra(5ticed his profession ever since. Is a 
member of the I,uzerne County Medical Society, of which he has been Presi- 
dent. Is a member of the Pennsylvania State Medical vSociety, of which he was 
President in 1887. Is a member of the L,ehigh Valley Medical Society, and an 
honorary member of the Philadelphia Obstetrical Society. He is a son of David 
Davis and Elizabeth Davis, who were natives of Wales, and settled in Warren, 
Bradford county, in 1832. Married Maggie E. Williams, daughter of Philip 
Williams and Harriet Williams of the above place. Have four children — Maude,. 
Walter, Harriet and Bessie. 

Dr. JOHN BARCLAY CRAWFORD 

Was born in the town of Crawford, Orange county. New York, in 1S27. His 
ancestors were among the pioneers of that region. His great-grandfather, James 
Crawford, was an officer in the Continental forces in the English and French 
War, and was -with General Wolfe at the capture of Quebec. His grandfather, 
John Crawford, was a soldier in the War of the Revolution and served through 
the entire period of the War. His father, John Barclaj- Crawford, was a soldier 
in the War of 1812. The subjecft of this sketch passed the early years of his 
life in the usual uneventful way of a farmer's bo}^ When about eight years of 
age, his father removed to Moreland, Tioga (now Schuyler) county, New York, 
a short distance from the present town of Watkins. For several years he 
attended the common school of the distridt in which he resided. He subse- 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. iir 

quently was placed under the care of a private tutor, and afterward entered the 
Academy at Havana, where he remained until he began the study of medicine. 
He studied medicine with Dr. Wilcox of Elmira. and at the Medical Department 
of Columbia College, New York, and began the pradlice of medicine in 1850. 
In 1852 he married Sarah Hammond of Big Flats, New York, a descendant of 
one of the early settlers of Wyoming Valley. He resided at Wyoming until 
1870, when he removed to Wilkes-Barre. Dr. Crawford entered the army in 
1861. He was Medical Diredlor at Camp Curtin ; was Surgeon in Charge of the 
Military Department of St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia, and was subse- 
quently appointed Surgeon of the Fifty-Second or Old Luzerne Regiment of 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, then commanded by ex-Governor Henry M. Hoyt. 
He served in the field through the Chickahominy campaign and the siege of 
Charleston. In 1864 he resigned on account of sickness contracfted in the mili- 
tary service Dr. Crawford was one of the original members of the Luzerne 
County Medical Society. He is one of the oldest members of the Medical So- 
ciety of the State of Pennsylvania and of the American Medical Association. 
He served as one of the attending physicians of the Wilkes-Barre City Hospital 
from the time of its organization until 1890, when he resigned. He was then 
elected Consulting Physician of that Hospital, and still retains that position. 
In 1872 he was appointed Coroner of Luzerne county by Governor Gearj-. He 
now occupies the oiSce of President of the Board of Examining Surgeons for 
Pensions of the Twelfth Congressional Distridl of Pennsylvania. 

F. M. NEWELL, 

A member of one of the oldest families in the State, was born near Canton, 
Pennsylvania. In 1883 established the Waverly Manufaifluring Company, 
which became the Newell Clothing Company, Waverly, New York. In 1890 
the Newell Clothing Companj^ of Wilkes-Barre absorbed the two first corpora- 
tions, with a capital stock of $20,000. T. L. Newell of Kingston, was its first 
President, and Lj'ddon Flick its first Vice-President. The capital stockhas been 
increased to 540,000. with Colonel G. Murray Reynolds as President. 




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KINGSTON 




PART of Kingston is located upon a tract of land 
which was taken up b}- William Gallup, one of the 
*^<?C\^ original forty. This traA ran from the mountain 
_J^|j to the river and was 434 feet in width. The old 
Kingston grave-3-ard and the Delaware, Lackawanna 
V, and Western shops are upon this tra(5t. A portion of 
this land is still retained by Mrs. Sophie Curtis, his 
granddaughter. Air. Gallup was in the fort at Forty 
Fort with his famih- during the massacre, and assisted in breaking 
in the heads of the whisky barrels and emptjang their contents in 
the river after the fight. One of Mr. Gallup's daughters married 
Israel Skeer, well known to the old residents of Kingston. 

[The above sketch was! compiled from a manuscript written I)y John Mulkey of West Pitts- 
ton, a descendant of William Gallup.] 




WroniNQ 5EiiinART. 

THIS institution jwas ^organized in 1844. The first Board of 
Trustees consisted of Rev. David Holmes, pastor of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, Wilkes-Barre ; Lord Butler, Sharp D. 
Lewis, citizens of Wilkes-Barre; Rev. Lucien S. Bennett, pastor of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, Kingston; Rev. Silas Comfort, 
Presiding Elder; Thomas Myers and Madison F. Alyers, citizens 
of Kingston. The first building was ere(?ted by Thomas Myers, at 



114 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

a cost of $4,700. Rev. Reuben Nelson, A. M., then of Gilbertsville, 
New York, was eledled Principal, and Miss Rutli S. Ingalls. Pre- 
ceptress. The Seminary was formally opened for instruAion Sep- 
tember 25, 1844, Rev. Dr. John P. Durbin, then President of Dick- 
inson College, delivering the dedicatory address. 

The first building was destroyed bj- fire (cause unknown), starting 
between the hours of twelve and one o'clock on the morning of 
March 15, 1853. The instit*ution was immediately rebuilt in the 
form of the three Main Halls — Swetland, Commercial and Union — 
of the present building. 

In 1 866 Centenar}' Hall was eredled and in 1887 the Nelson 
Memorial Hall. 

Rev. Reuben Nelson, the first Principal, held the position until 
1872, with the exception of one year — 1863, when it was held by 
Rev. Y. C. Smith, A. M., who had been for a number of years the 
senior professor of the Institution. In 1872 Dr. Nelson was eleAed 
to the Agency of the Methodist Book Concern in New York cit}-, 
and Rev. David Copeland, A. M., then President of the Hillsborough 
Female College in Ohio, was ele6led to the Principals hip. Dr. 
Copeland held this position until November, 1S82, when he resigned 
on account of severe illness. He died the following December, and 
was succeeded in the Presidency of the Institution by Rev. L. L- 
Sprague, the present incumbent. 

The College of Business was established in conne(?tion with the 
Seminary in 1S63. Rev. W. S. Smj^th, A. M., was the first Princi- 
pal. In 186S he was followed by Rev. L- L. Sprague. In 1882 
Prof W. L. Dean, A. M., the present incumbent, was elefted 
Principal. 

The Seminary has alwaj-s been favored with a good patronage. 
More than fifteen thousand young people have 'enjoyed its advan- 
tages as studeuts. Some of these have reached very high prom- 
inence in political, professional, business and social life. It has 
been for more than fort}- years the leading educational institution in 
Northeastern Pennsylvania, and promises to be equally prominent 
in the future. 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 115 

Representative Aem of Kimqston. 

Rev. L. L. SPRAGUE, A. M., D. D. 

Born December 23, 1844, in the town of Beekman, Dutchess county, New York. 
Educated at Wyoming Seminary. Completed a college course by private study. 
Degree of A. M. conferred by Alleghany College and that of D. D. by the Wes- 
leyan University. Was Principal of LeRaysville Academy in 1865. In 1868 
was eledled Principal of Wyoming College of Business and in 1882 President of 
'M'yoming Seminary. Joined the Wyoming Conference in 1874. Has been con- 
tinuouslj- teaching since 1868. 

WILLIS L. DEAN, 

Born in Waverly, Pennsylvania, Februar}-, 1857. Educated at Madison Acad- 
emy and the Wyoming Seminary. Taught in Lowell's Commercial College, 
Binghamton, New York, from 1873 to 1875. Eledled Professor of Penmanship 
in Wyoming Seminary- and Commercial College in 1875, and when Dr. Sprague 
was elected President of the Seminar^-, in 1883, he was promoted to the Prin- 
cipalship of the Commercial College, which position he still holds. 

HUGO V. STADLER 

Was born in Constance, Germany. Educated at his native place and Berlin. 
Studied music under prominent masters and finished at Berlin. Taught music 
in that city. Came to the United States in 1867, and taught music in New York 
for three 3'ears. Came to Kingston in 1871 ; became Musical Director of the 
musical department of Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, and has filled that 
position successfully for twenty-one years. Under his i!ire<5lion the musical 
department of Wyoming Seminarj- has become one of the largest in this part of 
the State. 

FRED. M. DAVENPORT 

Was born August 27, 1866, in Salem, Massachusetts. Seventeen j-ears ago he 
moved with his parents to New Milford, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, 
and has since been a resident of this State. His course preparatory to admission 
to college was taken at W}'0ming Seminarj-, from which institution he was 
graduated in 1885. The succeeding four years were spent in study at Wesleyan 



ii6 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

University, Middletown, Connecflicut. Since 1889 he has been engaged as in- 
strudlor in Greek and Latin at Wyoming Seminar3^ In addition to his work as 
teacher, he does considerable ledturing and preaching, and is the Wyoming 
Conference Secretary of Epworth Leagues. The family to which he belongs is 
a branch of the old English Davenport stock, whence come likewise the Daven- 
ports of Plymouth. 

RUFUS B. ROWLAND 

Was born in Danby, Tompkins county. New York, September 15, 1851. He 
prepared for college at the Ithaca Academy and at Wyoming Seminary. Enter- 
ing Cornell University in 1869, he graduated in 1872 with the first class that 
took the full course at that institution. In 1873 he was elecfted to the Chair of 
Mathematics in Wyoming Seminary, which position he still holds. From 1877 
to 1 88 1 he also taught the Natural Sciences in the same institution. In 1887 
he published a volume entitled "Elements of the Conic Sedlions." 

E. J. WOLFE 

Was born at Muhlenburg, Pennsylvania, and was educated in the public schools 
and at Huntington Mills Academy. He has held various positions in the public 
schools of the valley, including principalships at Plymouth, Beach Haven and 
Nanticoke, and is now in charge of the Teachers' Preparatory Department of 
Wyoming Seminary. In addition to his duties there, he edits the State depart- 
ment of the Papula)' Educator, a leading educational paper. He has published 
four annual issues of the l^uscrne Institute, a paper circulating largely among the 
educators of the State; and the " Pradlical Speller," an advanced work in 
orthograph}'. He is quite popular as a ledlurer at local Institutes, and has 
established a very successful summer school for teachers at Wj'oming Seminary. 

JOHN H. RACE, 

A native of Pennsylvania, was born March 10, 1862. Being the son of a Meth- 
odist minister, his early education was much interrupted bj- the periodical 
removals from place to place. When but a lad of fifteen he began earning his 
own livelihood, being engaged as a clerk in a general dry-goods and grocery 
store. Later he was employed as a clerk in the post-office at Tunkhannock, the 
county-seat of Wyoming. From this place he entered Wyoming Seminary. 
During his preparatory school 5'ears he supported himself by keeping the books 
of the institution. Graduating from the Seminarv in 1886, he entered the Col- 




6uiiiuMtT, nrat. 



A 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 117 

lege of New Jersey at Princeton. Took the full classical course, and graduated 
from College in June, 1890. In March of the same year he was admitted as a 
probationer to the New Jersey Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and appointed to Island Heights, New Jersey. During the summer of 1890 he 
was eledted to the Department of Rhetoric in Wyoming Seminar}-. 

CHARLES ORION THURSTON, 

Born in Barre, Vermont, February 23, 1857. Graduated, with honor in chem- 
istry, from Dartmouth College in 1884. Principal Colebrook Academy, Cole- 
brook, New Hampshire, 1884. Principal Newport, New Hampshire, High 
School, 1885-6. Professor of Science and Mathematics Marston's University 
School for Boys, Baltimore, Maryland, 1887-8. Professor of Science Wyoming 
Seminary since 1889. 

Rev. MANLEY S. HARD, D. D., 

Is forty-eight years old. He was born in New York. Was graduated from 
Syracuse University and was President of the Alumni Association for two or 
"three terms. He has been Pastor of Methodist Episcopal Churches in New 
York State as follows : First Church of Ilion ; Centenary Church, Syracuse ; 
First Church, Ithaca; Presiding Elder of Elmira Distridl ; Hedding Church, 
Elraira ; First Church, Canandaigua ; Centenary Church, Binghamton, and 
now Presiding Elder of Wyoming District. He was a member of the General 
Conference in 1884 and 1888, and one of the Secretaries of both bodies. He is 
at present Secretary of the Wyoming Conference, and has been doing that kind 
of work for twenty years. He is also a Trustee of Syracuse University; Wyo- 
ming Conference Seminary, and a Manager of the New York State Custodial 
Asylum for Feeble Minded Women. His present residence is Kingston, his first 
living in Pennsylvania. 

CHARLES GRAHAM, Sr., 

Born in the village of Crossford, Fifeshire TCounty of Fife), Scotland, April 15, 
1834. Served an apprenticeship at the machinist trade there. Left Scotland 
for the United States, September, 1853. On landing fourd work at the Rogers 
Locomotive Works, Paterson, New Jersey. After remaining there a few months, 
left there and went to work for the Erie Railroad at Piermont on the Hudson ; 
remaining here onh- a short time ; returning to the Rogers Locomotive Works ; 



ii8 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

leaving this Company again and hieing to the Delaware, Lackawanna and West- 
ern Railroad, starting to work for them in their Scranton Shops, January 4,. 
1855, under Watts Cooke, who had been appointed Master Mechanic only a few 
months previous, the Company at this time having eighteen locomotives and 
fifty miles of single track from Scranton to Great Bend. After working in the 
shops and adling as extra locomotive engineer for a short time, was appointed 
General Foreman until the fall of 1864, when he was appointed Master Mechanic 
of the Lackawanna and Bloomsburg Railroad. Under his administration various 
changes and improvements were made. In 1883, when the Buffalo Division of 
the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad was started he was made 
Master Mechanic of this Division, in connedlion with his duties at Kingston. 
After getting the shops completed and everything established in his department, 
and owing to the increased duties falling on him, his health not permitting this,, 
he was relieved from the Buffalo Division, but still remaining in charge at 
Kingston. June i, 18S6, he was appointed Master Mechanic of the" Main Line 
of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western system, with headquarters at Scran- 
ton. He has been in continuous service for the Delaware, Lackawanna and 
Western Railroad since January, 1855, though not in adlive duty at present on 
account of ill health. He v/as a charter member of Kingston Masonic Lodge, 
No. 395, Free and Accepted Masons, also a member of the Master Mechanics' 
Association since its organization in 1868. He was succeeded at Kingston b3r 
his son, Charles Graham. 

Rev. F. von KRUG, 

Born in Darmstadt, Germany, 1850. Educated in the schools of the same city. 
Attended school one year at Heidelberg. Came to this country in 1869. 
Preached at Bloomingburg, Ohio, seven years. Came to Kingston in December, 
1886, as pastor of the Presbyterian Church. 

WILLIAM LOVELAND 

Was born in Kingston, Pennsylvania, August 15, 1821. He was the second 
son of Elijah and Mary Buckingham Loveland, whose families were among the 
Puritans who came to Connedticut about 1630. He received his education in 
the old Academy on Main street, Kingston, and at Dana's Academy in Wilkes- 
Barre. Mr. Loveland has always been a farmer. At his father's death he 
assumed control of the family homestead in Kingston. He has aided to develop 
and sustain the most important local interests. As a business man he has ever 
been adlive and prominent. He has been for years an officer and member of the 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 119 

Presbyterian Church. Mr. Loveland identified himself with the Republican 
party at its organization and has been deeply interested in its progress to the 
present time, although never an active politician. In 1S56 he married Lydia 
Hurlbut of Arkport, New York, a granddaughter of Christopher Hurlbut, a 
surveyor well known in the Wyoming Valley in the pioneer days and a native 
of Coiineclicut. 

CHARLES GRAHAM, Jr., 

Was born at Scranton, Pennsylvania. ■ Son of Charles Graham, for many years 
Master Mechanic of Delaware, Lackawanna and Western shops at Kingston. 
Mr. Graham was educated at Wyoming Seminary and Lehigh University. 
Became Foreman of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western shops at Kingston 
in 1883; General Foreman in 1886; Master Mechanic in 1891. Mr. Graham 
began working at the trade of machinist in 1876, and at thirty years of age he 
became Master Mechanic. He is Past Master of Kingston Masonic Lodge. 

FRANK HELM, 

Son of Oliver Helm, was born in Kingston August 7, r8i6. Educated in private 
schools in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the old Academy 
in Kingston, Pennsylvania. Moved to Wilkes-Barre in 1823, and removed to 
Kingston in 1831. Went in the cabinet bu-^iness w.th his brother. In 1858 
purchased the farm where he now resides. 

JOHN D. HOYT, 

Born in Kingston, Pennsylvania, August 15, 1819. Son of Ziba Hoyt and 
Nancy Hurlbut Hoyt. Brother of ex-Governor Henry M. Hoyt. Elizabeth 
(wife of Abram H. Reynolds), and Anne (wife of Rev. Charles Corss). Lived 
in Kingston all his life. For many years Trustee aud Elder in the Presbyterian 
Church. Father of Anne Elizabeth (wife of George Shoemaker)^ Martha (wife 
of Dr. Frederic Corss), Abram G. Hoyt, Augusta Hoyt, Edward E. Hoyt, Esq., 
and Henry M. Hoyt, Jr., Esq. 

ADAM CLARK LAYCOCK 

Was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, December 3, 1826. Entered Wyo- 
ming Seminary the first year that institution was opened. Was a wheelright 
and followed other employment, and in 1866 moved to Shickshinny and assumed 



I20 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

charge of the Salem Coal Company's store for five years. Moved to Kingston 
in 1876 and was employed in Edwards & Company's store. Traveled for Chapin 
& Pringle, marble firm. Deputy Warden of L,uzerne County Prison for two 
years and elecfted Warden in 1887. Established with Mr. Chapin the firm of 
Laycock & Chapin, marble and granite business, in Kingston. Was a candidate 
before the Convention of Euzerne county for Sheriff. Mr. Laycock has taken 
an a<5live part in Luzerne countv politics. 

ELLIOTT R. MORGAN 

Was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. Educated at Sunbury and 
D.inville, Pennsylvania. Assistant Postmaster at Danville for seven years. 
Became Secretary of the Kingston Coal Company in 1882. Has been a member 
of the Kingston Town Council, and officer in the Masonic Lodge and Knights 
Templar. 

FREDERICK BARHAM MYRES 

Was born in Kingston, Pennsylvania, on the old Myres estate, part of which 
e'-tate has been held by the family since the original grant by the government 
to Lourant Myres for services during the Revolution. His mother is a grand- 
daughter of Thomas Bennett. Mr. Myres was educated at the Wyoming Sem- 
inary and Barymore Seminary. Mr. Myres is a farmer. 

HENRY KUNKLE, M. D., 

Was born at New Ringgold, Pennsylvania. Educated in the public schools and 
State Normal School at Kutztown, Pennsylvania ; graduated from Lafayette in 
1887. Studied medicine with Dr. Wenger at Peading. Graduated from the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore in 1889. Pra<fticed in Brook- 
lyn, New York. Removed to Kingston in 1889. Member of the Luzerne and 
Lehigh and State Medical Societies. Received the degree of A. M. from 
Lafayette College in 1890. 

P. BUTLER REYNOLDS 

Was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Son of C. W. Reynolds, well known 
in the valley in his day. His mother was a daughter of Pierce Butler, descend- 
ant of Zebulon Butler, commander at the Massacre. Mr. Reynolds was educated 
in the public schools of Wilkes-Barre and at Wyoming Seminary at Kingston. 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 121 

\Vas survej-or of Luzerne county from 1874 to 1875, and is well known as a 
Mining and Civil Engineer. At the present time is senior member of the insur- 
ance firm of Reynolds & Company of Wilkes-Barre. 

ALAXSON B. TYRRELL, 

Born in Watertown, Conneclicut, on June 8, 1833. Was educated in the 
public schools of that place. Learned his trade as carpenter and joiner in 
Waterbury, Connecticut. Came to Wyoming, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, 
in 1855, and began building breakers in 1857 through the Anthracite coal field, 
and is the most extensive breaker builder in the United States. He moved to 
Kingston in the }-ear 1874, where he now resides. Was married in the year 1855 
to Miss Susah S. Marks of Wyoming, Pennsylvania, formerly of Waterbury, 
Connecfticut. Has served his borough as Councilman and School Diredtor. 
Has four children — Esther M.. studying medicine at Woman's Medical College, 
Philadelphia; Jennie M. (Mrs. C. E. Roat), resident of Kingston; Fred. W., 
resident of Wilkes-Barre, an accountant and also in the grocerj- business in 
Kingston; B. Frank, resident of Kingston, an accountant and grocer in Kingston. 

C. W. BOUGHTON 

Was born in Newbury, Orange county. New York. Educated in the public 
schools. Came to Kingston, Pennsylvania, in 1849, and established his present 
business of Carriage Making and Blacksmithing. Has served the Borough of 
Kingston as School Diredtor, Assessor, Town Council, and other oiSces. 

RALPH B. VAUGHN 

"Was born at Wyalusing, Pennsylvania. Educated in the public schools and at 
Wyoming Seminary. Telegraph Operator for the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and 
at the present time Freight and Coal Agent for the Delaware, Lackawanna and 
AVestern Railroad at Kingston. 

CLINTON W. BOON 

Was born in Huntington township, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, March 16, 
1832. Educated in the public schools. Became a Carpenter and Builder. 
Moved to Arkansas. Enlisted as a private in September, 1861, and served four 
3-ear3, being promoted a Sergeant, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant; in 1864 



122 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

was promoted Captain, and the last year of the War was commander of a bat- 
talion, and was mustered out of service September, 1865. Returned to Blooms- 
burg, Pennsylvania, and in 1875 moved to Kingston. In 1S77 was eledled 
Justice of the Peace of that town. 

CALVIN DYMOND 

Was born in Exeter township, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, September 17, 
1837, ^""^^ attended the township schools. Became a clerk in Exeter. Engaged 
in farming, and in 1868 opened with Mr. Lewis, at Kingston, Pennsylvania, the 
meat stand of Dyniond & Lewis. Served four terms as Town Councilman and 
three years as Assessor. In 1887, with Mr. Lewis, built Dymond & Lewis Hall. 
He deals in and owns considerable real estate, and takes an adlive part in 
borough affairs. 

JAMES D. EDWARDS 

Was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, August 6, 1S62. Moved to Plymouth and: 
later to Kingston, Pennsylvania. Educated in the public schools of Plymouth. 
Entered the office of the Kingston Coal Company in 1879, and is now paymaster. 
Mr. Edwards lives in Edwardsdale. Has been School Director for four years, 
and takes an adlive part in local affairs. 

HERMAN C. MILLER 

Was born at Leipsig, German3\ Educated in the schools of that city. Came 
to this country in 1847, and has been in the Furniture and Undertaking busi- 
ness for forty years. Served in the War of the Rebellion over three years in the 
Fifty-Second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers (Colonel Hoyt's Regiment). 
He is Secretary and Treasurer of the Pennsylvania Volunteers' Association of 
the Fifty-Second Regiment, and has served as President of the Tri-County 
Funeral Dire(5lors' Association and Vice-President of the State Association, and 
as School Dire<5lor and Town Councilman of Kingston borough. 

W. L. MYLES, 

The subjedt of this sketch, is a typical Cambro- American, having first seen the 
light of day at Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, April 25, 1848. His father had 
to toil hard to procure the means of support, but by pradticing economy and 
diligence, the parents were enabled to give their son the benefit of a few years'" 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 123 

education in the parish schooL At the tender age of eleven years he was ap- 
prenticed to the drj'-goods business at The Cloth Hall, in his native town, and 
followed that business until, with his parents, he emigrated to America in the 
spring of 1867, and settled with them at Johnstown, Pennsylvania. In 1869-70 
he was employed by the Morris Run Coal Company as weighmaster, and 1870- 
74 we find him as book-keeper in the employ of Connell & Compau}-, Meadow 
Brook Colliery, Scranton, and Co-Operative Store, Hyde Park. He then re- 
turned to Johnstown, (having married in 1870 to Miss M. Llewellyn of that 
ill-fated town,) and opened a grocery establishment. He was afterward em- 
ployed at "The Checkered Front," Pittsburgh, from which city, in 1877, he 
came to Wilkes-Barre and entered the employ- of D. C. Jeremy, where he 
remained until 1S85, when he accepted a position of trust and great responsi- 
bilitj- with Edwards & Company of Kingston, which position he has held up to 
the present time, where he may be found trusted and respecSled by his employers. 
He does not confine himself to the pressing demands of his business, in the 
discharge of which he is most capable, but delights to aid in the promotion of 
every good cause that has for its object the elevation of his fellow men. The 
Young Men's Christian Association elected him as their first President, which 
position he filled for nearly eighteen months. 

CHRISTIAN BACH 

Was born in Rhoden, F. Waldack. April 10, 1S50. Was educated in his native 
town. Learned the trade of Tailor at home. Spent several j'ears in Frankfort- 
on-the-Main and Wiesbaden. Came to the United States in 187 1. Came to 
Kingston in 1875 and established his present business of Merchant Tailoring. 
Mr. Bach was the originator of the Eledlric Light, Heat and Power Companj' 
of that place and is its President. One of the originators of the Kingston Young 
Men's Christian Association, and has taken an active interest in all borough 
and church matters. 

MICHAEL GARRAHAN, 

The suljecl of this sketch, was born in what is now a part of Plymouth borough, 
July 4, 1848. In i860, with his father, he removed to what is known as the 
"Avondale Farm," where the next twenty years of his life was spent. In the 
year 1869 he married Miss Maggie B. Hutchison, a person of considerable intel- 
lectual attainments and more than ordinary spirituality of mind. For the next 
ten years both were adlively engaged in home mission work, as far as other 



124 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

duties would allow. Owing to the failing health of his wife and family, a 
change of residence become a necessity. Mr. Garrahan removed to Kingston in 
1 880, where he now resides. 



CHARLES S. TURPIN 

Was born in Ohio. Came to Kingston, Pennsylvania, in his youth, and was 
educated in the public schools and at Wyoming Seminary. Was a Surveyor for 
five years, and in the mercantile business until he established his harness busi- 
ness on Railroad street, which he still conducts in connedlion with the real 
estate business. He served in the Arm}- of the Potomac in Company D, 143d 
Regiment, for one year. 

GEORGE DANA KINGSLEY 

Was born at Blakely, L,ackawanna count}-, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1858. 
Was educated in the common schools at Scranton and at Whitestown Seminary, 
near Utica, New York. Was employed as weighmaster for a number of years, 
and later as Foreman of Avondale Colliery, which position he now holds. He 
is a member of Kingston Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Shekinah Royal 
Arch Chapter, and Dieu le Veut Commandery. Now resides in Kingston. 

ANEURIN EVANS 

Was born at Summit Hill, Pennsylvania, in 1855. Son of Rev. D. E. Evans, 
M. D. Educated in the public schools. Graduated from Wyoming vSeminary 
in 1872, and the Commercial College in 1S73. Learned the drug business in 
Plymouth, Pennsylvania. In 1S77 established the present drug firm of Evans 
& Son, Railroad street, in Kingston. 

D. H. LAKE, M. D., 

Born in England in 1863. Came to Youngstown, Ohio, in 1872, and thence to 
Scranton in 1878. Entered Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio, remaining three 
years, when he returned to Scranton and took up the study of medicine in con- 
nedlion with teaching. Graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, 
April, 1885. Entered the Philadelphia (Blockley) Hospital as a resident physi- 
cian, where he remained fourteen months; then in November, 1886, located in 
Kingston and Edwardsville, where he has since practiced his profession. His 



THE WYOMING VALI.EY. 125 

father, Rev. Lot Lake, was for eight years pastor of the Congregational Church 
at Scranton. He is now located in Knoxville, Tennessee, as pastor of the Knox 
ville Congregational Church. Married in December, 1SS9. 

EDWARD E. ROSS, 

Born at Tuscarora, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, Odlober 17, 1855. On 
arriving at legal age, was sent to the public schools; attended regularly until 
old enough to pick slate in the breaker, after which attended school during idle 
time and in the coldest part of the winter. Commenced teaching at the age of 
fifteen years, and followed the profession until 1885, teaching in the counties of 
Schuylkill, Xorthumberland. Union and Luzerne. From 1885 to 1887 estab- 
lished a lucrative drug business at Luzerne. Was then appointed Outside Fore- 
man for the Northwest Coal Company, Limited, at Carbondale, Pennsylvania. 
Resigned this position in 1889: returned to Luzerne county and re-entered the 
profession of teaching. Was a candieate for the County Superintendency of 
Public Schools in 1890. Is now Principal of the Public Schools of Kingston. 

GEORGE M. PACE 

Was born in Kingston, Pennsylvania. Graduated from the Commercial College 
of Wyoming Seminary in 1881. Entered the mercantile business, dealing 
exclusively in teas and coffees. Moved to Kingston in 1891. Purchased the 
Philip Goodwin estate on which he had eredled a business block. Mr. Pace 
deals extensively in real estate. 

DAVID S. CLARK 

Was bom in Plains township, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. Attended school 
at West Pittston. Followed blacksniithing for twenty years. Ser\^ed in the 
Rebellion in the Second Penns\lvania ^^olunteers; was in the service two years. 
Was Postmaster at Centermoreland, Wyoming county, and appointed Postmaster 
at Kingston, Pennsylvania, in 1889. Is Commander of Conyngham Post and 
Treasurer of the Kingston Fire Department. 

ALFRED H. COON 

Was born in Luzerne count3\ Educated in the public schools. Lived in Hones- 
dale. Pennsylvania, and became a partner with his father in building public 
works. Came to Kingston in 1854. Mr. Coon has filled as many contradls for 



126 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

public works as any man in the State, and has never left a contract unfinished. 
Organized and built the Wilkes-Earre and Kingston street car line, the first T 
rail used on a street railroad. This was the first street car line in Northeastern 
Pennsylvania. Mr. Coon and his brother put the first steamboat on the Susque- 
hanna at Wilkes-Barre, and through his influence secured an appropriation to 
dredge the river below Wilkes-Barre. 

W. H. SHAVER, 

Born in Dallas township, September 20, 1847. Received a common school 
education. Was mu.stered into the United States service August 20, 1862, as a 
member of Battery M, Second Pennsylvania Volunteer Artillery. Followed the 
fortunes of the Army of the Potomac until May 25, 1865, when he was honor- 
ably discharged. Took the occupation of a locomotive engineer from 1867 to 
March, 1887, when he went into the grocery business, where he is at present 
■employed. 

A. J. ROAT, 

Was born April 20, 1833. at Light Street, Columbia county, Pennsylvania. 
Moved to Forty Fort in 1 841 and to Kingston in 1S45. Learned the blacksmith- 
ing trade in 1856. Married in 1856 to Mary Ann Gabriel. Carried on black- 
smith and wagon work until 1878. Started in the hardware business, which he 
still continues. From a small business it has grown to be one of the largest in 
the valley, occupying four buildings. Has three sons who assist him in the 
business, besides employing six assistants. Has served as School Director, 
Councilman and Chief of Fire Department. 

ISAAC GERHARD ECKERT, 

Son of George J. Eckert, was born at Reading, Pennsylvania, August 21, 1858. 
Pennsylvania German descent on both farther's and mother's side. Graduate of 
Reading High School and Reading Business College. Student at Lafayette 
College in civil engineering course. Graduate of State School of Mines, Golden, 
Colorado, as an assayer. Married in Denver, Colorado, June, 1879, to Miss 
Lizzie Ella Smith, daughter of Levi M. Smith, formerly of Kingston. Book- 
keeper and assistant cashier in the banking-house of L- J. Smith & Co. Secre- 
tary Golden City Republican Committee. Member Jefferson county, Colorado, 
Republican Committee. Assistant Chief Fire Department. Secretary and 
Treasurer Library and Reading Room Association. Manager of Golden Opera 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 127 

House. Returned East in the fall of 1881. Manager of George J. Eckert's 
Fire Brick Works, Reading, until the fall of 1883, when he moved to Kingston. 
Outside Foreman of Harrj- E. and Forty Fort Collieries; at present book-keeper 
for both collieries. Secretarj- Forty Fort School Board. Secretary Second 
Legislative Distridl Committee. Assistant Chairman Republican County Com- 
mittee for Second Distri<5t. Candidate for nomination for Legislature before the 
next Second District Convention. 

LEWIS LEONIDAS ROGERS, M. D., 

Born at Huntsville, Pennsylvania. Eldest son of Dr. J. J. Rogers. Educated 
at the public schools Wyoming Seminary, College of Physicians and Surgeons, 
Baltimore, ^Maryland; Philadelphia Lying-in Hospital, and Jeiferson Medical 
College, Philadelphia, from which he graduated March 12, 18S1. Took a post- 
graduate course in Gynaecology under Professors Baer and Goodell at the Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania. Located at Kingston in the fall of 1881, where he has 
been engaged in general practice ever since. He is a member of the Luzerne 
County, Lehigh Valley, and Pennsylvania State Medical Societies; an ofiBcial 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church : Lecturer on Physiology and 
Hygiene at Wyoming Seminary ; one of the organizers of the Kingston Young 
Men's Christian Association and its Vice-President for two j'ears. Dr. Rogers 
is a self-educated man, having taught in the public and graded schools for six 
years previous to his studying medicine. 

CHESTER WILCOX 

Was born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania. Attended the public schools of Pittston. 
Has followed manufacturing of brick and building all his life, and built many 
of the brick buildings of Plymouth, where he lived for sixteen years. Has lived 
for a number of years in Kingston. His father was one of the first brick makers 
in the valley. Mr. Wilcox is a fine musician and gives his services free for 
church and local entertainments. 

J. MILTON NICHOLSON 

Was born in Salem, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, August 29, 1828. Re- 
mained on the homestead engaged in farming and school teaching until i860, 
when he entered the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Rail- 
road Company as Agent at Hopbottom, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, at 
which place he was Postmaster during Abraham Lincoln's first term, his com- 



128 REPRESENTATIVE MEN. 

mission bearing date of April lo, 1861. Came to Kingston June 6, 1865, as 
telegraph train dispatcher, which position he occupied until January i, 1881, 
since which time he has been ticket agent at that station. 

B. J. COBLEIGH, M. D., 

t 

Was born near Pottsville, Schuylkill county, January 10, 1863. Educated in 
the public schools of Plymouth, Luzerne county, and Wilkes-Barre Academy 
and Bloomsburg Normal School. Studied medicine and graduated from Jeffer- 
son Medical College, Philadelphia, class of 1883. Took a special course in eye 
and ear surgery, which branch of the profession he has pradliced since. Mar- 
ried Miss Margaret Edwards, youngest daughter of Daniel Edwards, Kingston, 
and is now located on Market street in that town. 



05TERHoaT Tree Library. 

H.\NN.\H P. JAMES, LIBRARIAN. 

'^;N April, 1882, by the will of the Hon. Isaac S. Osterhout, just deceased, 
(^ property amounting in value to about $325,000 was bequeathed to found a 
free library for the benefit of the citizens of Wilkes-Barre. This gift of Mr. 
Osterhout's "was the result and outgrowth of long and mature thought, and 
based upon his perception of the dependence of the peace and prosperity of a 
communitj' upon its virtue and intelligence." (E. L. Dana, Mem. Add.) In 
this purpose he had the hearty sympathj' of his wife. 

By the terms of the will the property was vested in a board of seven trustees: 
H. B. Payne, L. C. Paine, E. P. Darling, E. L. Dana, Harrison Wright, A. H. 
McClintock and Sheldon Reynolds, and was to be allowed to accumulate for five 
years before using. Fortunately, at the expiration of that time the building in 
which the First Presbyterian Church was worshipping, together with an ample 
lot of land, was in the market. Its situation and the adaptability to the needs 
of a library were all that could be desired, and it was purchased by the Trustees 
for that purpose. In April, 1887, Miss H. P. James, Librarian of the Newton 
Free Library of Newton, Massachusetts, was elected the Librarian of the new 
Library, and in August the first invoice of books was received. The work of 
receiving, cataloguing and arranging, thus begun, continued until January, 




■ (wiinnnl, nmi. 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 129 

iSSt). Meantime the buildine: was thoroughly repaired and remodelled. All 
the book-cases and furniture were of solid oak, and a remarkably beautiful and 
convenient library was achiev-ed, at a comparatively small expense. 

On January 28, 1889, the opening exercises were held in the new chapel of 
the First Presbyterian Church, and included an address by Professor Melvill 
Dewey, State Librarian of New York. At the conclusion of the exercises the 
doors of the Library were thrown open to the public, and many warm commend- 
ations of its beauty and convenience were expressed, and gratification that at 
last the long anticipated treasures were open to their use. On the following day 
the deliverj- of books for home use was commenced, and nearly 50,000 volumes 
are issued to readers j-early. 

From the first, the Reference Department has been a favorite resort for all 
classes. The small child who can hardly turn the leaves of a book, the breaker 
boy who comes from a squalid home to the warmth and light of the beautiful 
room and spends manj- a happy hour over books full of pictures and stories, the 
school children in search of help for their dailj- tasks, the mechanic and the 
engineer, the Sunday-school teacher, and the day-school teacher, the ladies for 
topics is literature and art, and the clergymen for light on some knottj- point ; 
all these and man\- more are using this fountain of precious knowledge which 
has sprung up in their pathway, and their lives are all the purer and better for 
it. It is a perennial blessing, growing richer and of greater value the more it is 
used and the longer it flows. No more blessed gift can one leave to his native 
city or town than a good library, free to all the inhabitants thereof. The 
Library opened with 10,652 carefulh' selected volumes, and has increased at the 
rate of about 1,200 volumes a year, so that now, in November, 1891, it has a 
little more than 14,200 volumes. 

The present Board of Directors consists of H. B. Payne, A. H. McCIintock, 
Sheldon Reynolds, Rev. Dr. F. B. Hodge, Rev. H. L- Jones, A. F. Derr, C. M. 
Conyngham, L. H. Taylor and H. A. Fuller. 




I30 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 



The Wilke5*^arre ^a5mE55 Colleqe 

MAS become one of the fixed educational institutions of our city, and is 
recognized as among the best of its kind in the State. It is now but 
four years since it was chartered, yet the number of its students is probably 
greater than that of any other institution of its age in the State ever has been. 
It is convenienth' located at the corner of Market and Franklin streets, occupy- 
ing all the rooms of the two upper stories over the Wyoming National Bank and 
adjoining building. It has a Board of Trustees composed of our leading citizens, 
of which Hon. C. A. Miner is President and Dr. Fred. C. Johnson is Secretary. 
G. L. Baldwin and A. W. Moss are principals. The Wilkes-Barre Business 
College was first established as a night-school by Frederick Schneider in 1885. 




-=r5S=i 



■^^m^^- 




iJltmiST. M.h.1 




1TER/\TURE 



fptPoddctiop. 



BY W. GEORGE POWELL. 



"^ ^' "'^ YOM IN G VALLEY is a name of poetical suggestiveuess 




to all persous of literary culture. In tlie latter da3-s 
of the remarkable poetical outburst of the beginning 
of this century, English bards, in their effort to retain 
freshness and originality, sought for subjefts in the new or 
nij'sterious countries to which the attention of advanced people was 
then being turned. Moore sang of "Lalla Rookh," and immortal- 
ized the Vale of Cashmere; B3-ron found his "Corsairs" and 
'"Laras" in Levantine life; and Campbell, to hold his own, hit upon 
Wvoming Valle}- as an excuse for displa\-ing his gorgeousness of 
phrase and fancy. Thus, in the full panoply of a puffed c/iff d' 
ceuvre of a popular poet, the three cantos of "Gertrude of Wj'oming" 
sprang forth. In a literar\' .sense, it might be said that Campbell 
discovered Wyoming Valley-, and it is just as true that he knew 
as little about it as Columbus did of America after seeing San Sal- 
vador. He has given our valle}- the greatest advertisement it has 
ever had, next to the Massacre, and has put a Parnassian stamp 
upon it forever; but this is not due to the poetr}- of the poem so 
much as to the name of the poet; and not so much to the poet as to 
the newness of his theme. There is not much credit to the vallev' 
accruing from the poem; the name suited Campbell's purpose, (he 
accented it, b}- the way, on the final syllable,) and that was all he 



134 INTRODUCTION. 

cared for. Like "Lalla Rookh," the poem is a constru6lioii, not 
an inspiration. But unlike Moore, Campbell was too lazy and care- 
less to make his imagination conform with the details of scenery 
and climate, as he could have learned them from books and trav- 
elers. The characters and plot are alike impossible, and the style 
lacks sincerity, being dominated b}' the spirit of Pope. The best 
feature of the poem, as we see it in the strong light of realism 
to-day, is the verbal beaut}' of its verse. It is little read now, but 
will long be known in Philistia by reason of its reputation when 
first published. 

Enough poetry and verse have been written on Wyoming Valley 
since Campbell's time to fill a good-sized volume. The greatest 
name in American literature that has given us the honor of an 
acquaintance with his muse, is Fitz-Greene Halleck. Evidentl}' led 
by the "Gertrude," he visited Wilkes-Barre, and gave vent to his 
experience in twelve well-turned Spenserians, full of broad sarcasm 
and humorous cynicism at Campbell's expense. Mrs. Sigourney, 
also, says something about us in her works. As for our native 
writers who have apostrophized their home, their name is legion. 
Concerning the varying abilities of these writers, readers may judge 
for themselves from the seledlions of their work given in the follow- 
ing pages. 

It is perhaps unnecessary to sa}' that the poem of Wyoming j^et 
remains to be written. Mere sentiment, which has been the parent 
of all verse on the subje6l hitherto, must give place to a passion 
more dignified before there can be produced a lasting and truthful 
poem worthy of its undeniable beauty and romance. 




l^iteratijr<? of U/yomi9(^ l/a!iey 



Editok'5 Note. 

The following collection of the poetical productions of our local writers is onlj- representa- 
tive, and simply hints at the wealth and beauty of Wj-oming Vallej' Literature. There are 
many fine prose writers among us, such as Judge D. L. Rhone, Mrs. Rhone, Judge G. M. 
Harding, Mrs. E. R. Mayer, Miss Edith Brower, Mrs. Ulmsted nee Moore, Mrs. Juniata 
Salisbur}.- Marcy, C. Ben. Johnson, Dan. L. Hart the dramatist, and many others. 



JOHN T. DOYLE. M. D., 

An eminent physician and surgeon, is well known as a lecturer and a wit and 
a brilliant writer; highly educated and has traveled extensively. Was born of 
Irish parents, who gave him a thorough education. Contributed to the Sat- 
urday Review in England and the Irish Indiistrial Magasme. and was literary and 
art correspondent from Australia from 1863 to 1865 for the London Illustrated 
News. 

IX THE SH.\DO\VS. 

I stand in the silence that death has made. The silken leaves, witli their rustling sound. 

By the side of my loved one's tomb. Strew softly the moss-clothed clay ; 

And fondly fancy, her phantom shade And silverj- grasses arrav the ground. 

Is blent with the shadows that fall and fade As tho' e'en the earth she had meetlj' gowned, 

O'er the grass-grown grave, where we mourning To welcome my steps to her lowly mound — 
All the pride of her earthly bloom. [laid To her home in the shadows grej-. 

The flowers and buds that in death's dark day 'T is sweet to draw thus a balm for woe, 

We wreathed on her robe of rest. From the shadow-land's dole so dread ; 

Seem springing to life from her shroud of clay. And to feel that fancy's enlivening glow, 

And nod in a wistful and meaning way, Like distant sun as it shines on snow. 

As though tliro' their forms she would fain con- Blends with our sorrows, to kindlv throw 
A sign to my sadful breast. [vey In sheen o'er the dust of the dead. 

The anthem 'd winds that around me sing, O shrouds ! and sorrows ! and stillness deep ! 

Are surely her spirit voice ; I thank j'e, that after all 

Forthej- movelike the breath of an angel'swing. Ye yield me my love in the winds that creep. 
As it used to do when t was wont to ring In the fragrant leaves that around me heap, 

Thro' mv raptured soul, and went caroling In the blossoms that waken and buds that sleep, — 

To bid me in love rejoice. In the shadows that fade and fall. 



136 



LITERATURE OF 



THE VOICE OF THE WANDERING WIND. 



There's a sympathy waked in my breast when 
I hear 
The voice of the wandering wind ; 
For in days of my childhood my thoughts loved 

to veer 
With the wantoning wind in its restless career, 
And in fancy I saw wondrous spirits appear 
In the skirts of the wonderful wind. 

To me, in its fiercest and wrathfulest tone, 

There was meaning and beauty of form ; 
As it wandered o'er earth with unloosened zone. 
Defiant, untamable, gloomy, unknown — 
'T was an aerial Ishmael, shunned and alone. 
And outcast wind brooding in storm. 

As it rose like a giant to rival the might 
Of the thunder's imperial roar — 

A towering phantom, it loomed on my sight. 

With shaggy clouds bearded, and clothed like 
night, [light, 

And it shook its fierce wings in the Ijolt's lurid 
While its warring notes rolled o'er and o'er. 

When it breathed tbro' soft meadows and sough- 
ed thro' tall trees, 
'T was music, low, sweet, undefined, [bees. 
And it sung like the humming of myriads of 
Or the boom from the deep sounding send of 
far seas, [glees. 

Till my thoughts fell in love with its ravishing 
And eloped with the eloquent wind. 

But not always m}- fancy was free to compare 
The wind with such earth-born change ; 

There was mingled at times with the others a 
share [as air. 

Of that "voice from the burning bush," lofty 

And I trembled within, overawed, as it were 
By a feeling unspeakably strange. 



And a deep diapason of concord burs t Ijond, ■ 

With the mighty wind's chorus of song — 
'T was as some disembodied voice making re- 
spond 
To the voice of the Infinite calling beyond^ — 
Like the sound of the spreading of wings that 
belonged 
To an angel host rising in throng. 

And my spirit uplifted was tempted to soar 
On winged w'inds to the heavenly hight ; 

For a moment I stood by "the beautiful shore," 

'T was a glimmer of light, a bright fancy — no 
more ; 

Then awa}' to the depths, to the gloom as before, 
With vagrant winds roaming the night ! 

Ever thus did my youth,with its fancyings free. 
Lend my soul to the wind as it sung ; 

Whether eagle-like soaring in loftiest key, 

Or dove-like soft cooing, 't w'as all cue to me ; 

I was bent to its moods, I was moved as a tree, 
By the wind as it settled or swung. 

Ah ! me, times have changed, winds still rest- 
lessly l)low 
And marshal their sounds in ray ears ; 
But they fan not mj- fancy again to aglow. 
And my thoughts are dull thoughts that reludt- 
antly flow ; [ago 

All the glad winds that sung to my heart long 
Are sobbing winds, rainful of tears. 

Loved forms still ride in the skirts of the gale, 

As it wanders resisllcssly past ; 
But they show to me dimly and spectrally pale. 
And beckon me to them as if thro' a veil. 
Whilst a d^dng wind broods on my soul with its 
wail — 
I'm a broken reed lient bv its blast. 



THE CLAIMS OF THE BELLS. 

A METAPHORIC.\I, JINGI,E. 

The church bells from steeples are ringing their 
Bing, bong ; [chimes, 

A reverent, resonant, wrangle in rhymes ; 
And the vibrant air,humming in sonorous -svaves. 
Breaks in musical surf thro' the aisles and the 

naves. 
Baptizing the echoes in sanctified staves. 
Ding, dong. 



How the soiinds, as they float on the wings of 
the wind — 

Bing, bang — 
Embody as 'twere and bring fortli to my mind 
Tintinabulous messengers sent to colledt 
The stray sounds of Christendom into a sect. 
Harmonizing the chosen as — truly eleifl ; 

Cling, clang. 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 



137 



And sweet to one's heart as it is to one's ear — 

Bini, bam — 
'Mid tlie world's belligerent tumult to hear 
Sounds appealing to cents, asking discord to stay 
And list while the Bell-fry admonish and prey 
That the tolls may be gathered to one fold alway ; 

Flim, flam. 

Each bell as it swings in its dome campanile 

So— high, 
Pitches sounds in a lofty self-sauctified style, 
Religiously toney as if to imply, [frj- ; 

The ' ' More holy than tliou " at the other bell- 
On the which all the rest, bellow forth in reply 

You — lie. 

In all matters profane such discordance would 
Rang, clang — [show — 

A certain old gentleman's work from below' ; 
But wondrous to tell ! when divines make the 

laws. 
And sects-tone the regular bell-ringer claws 
The rope that swings open old bel-zebub's jaws, 
Swing-swang ; 

The choice variations on discord are made. 

Bang, bang, 
A means of atonement to further and aid. 
In bringing sweet har-moue\- into the fold 
< Of the garments) of those, who like .Aaron of 

old 
Hem their kirtles with bells of Rabinical mould, 

Whang, whang. 



Audthe^- ne'er interrupt the grand dulcet refrain 

Bong, bing. 
Of the chorus of bells if tliey feel in the vane ; 
For let this one ring in or let that one ring out, 
Or another ring-cling over roof-tree, or spout, 
Or togetlicr bcll-moutli in a clapper-claw rout — 

Clong, cling. 

They all with an ortliodox voice of their own. 

Sing, song, [phone : 

Alliterate something like this through their 
"Believers believe me by God! I belong 
To the church luilli the only true san^lified gong , 
I'm the only one right, all the others are 
Ding, dong. \^'rong." 

.\li me ! is it fancy or reason unstrung, 

Bing, bang, 
That makes me imagine each bell puts its tongue 
Derisively out as it gets a good swing, 
.A.nd wags it at those who are caught by its ring. 
Whilst some crafty ecclesiarch pulls on the 

Fling, flang. [string ? 

M\- conjecturing powers, I sadly confess. 

Sing, song, [guess 

.\re too much rattle-banged by the bells e'er to 
Which is right, or which wrong, but where jan- 
gles abound [found, 
I, perhaps, may conclude on a theme so pro- 
That the claim of each bell is most strikingly — 
Ding, dong. [sound. 



JOHN S. McGROARTY 

Was born and educated in this valley. He is a 3'oung man whom all admire 
and respect, whose friends are legion, who, b}^ foice of character, intelligence 
and untiring energj', is as well and as favorably known as an}' 3'oung man in 
this section. Has been a teacher, editor, and is now Treasurer of this countj-. 
He has written many fine poems and prose articles. They are not only good 
art, but a mirror of the many admirable qualities of the writer. His volume of 
poetry, issued in 1886, entitled "The Poets and Poetry of Wj-oming Valley," is 
the only collection of valley poetrj' ever published. 



A LOST FRIEND. 



She was a maiden sweet and true. 
No purer is the summer's dew 

Than was the tliought she'd speak ; 
Oh, dark her eye was and her hair. 



From out a close walled city's way 
She came to spend a summer's day 

Amid the peaceful homes 
That stand the healtliful hills among. 



138 



LITERATURE OF 



But never lily grew more fair, 
Than was her brow and cheek. 

And then it was my lot, full oft, 
To clasp her hand so small and soft, 

And hear her gentle speech, 
And tell her each romantic tale 
That hovered over hill and dale. 

Where'er her gaze might reach. 

Oh, sweet that summer was to me; 
How happy did I grow to see 

Her pale cheek softly show 
That kisses from our vallev's breeze, 
And rambles 'mong her hills and trees, 

Could bring again health's glow. 

And then how hard to sa^- farewell, 
To break affection's happy spell. 

And speak each other's name; 
And tell of all the joys we'd known. 
And tlie dear friendship that had grown, 

Between us since she came. 

Back to her home she went, and I 
Think of her still, and think and sigh; 

For that sweet face no more 
Will see Wyoming's vale and skies. 
While the dark lustre of her eyes 

Grow happy, gazing o'er. 



Where, in its grandeur fair and strong. 
The Susquehanna roams. 

They took her to the city's ways, 
Back where disease in grimness stays. 

With all its sickly care: 
And so it was tliat from her brow 
Fled the soft color and the glow 
Wyoming had left there. 

Ah, nevermore can city din 

Throb in thy temples, Florence Lynn, 

Cold is thy pale cheek now: 
Ruthless, the chilly reaper. Death, 
Has blown his dead'uing, fatal breath. 

Upon thy sweet, pale brow. 

Florence! forever fare-thee-well, 
M_v grief 't were vanity to tell — 

You ne'er can hear my sighs; 
You never now can know how dear 
Were you to him who shed the tear 

Whene'er these memories rise. 

I know that now the spring-tide air 
Blows o'er thy grave in Delaware. 

And yet the dream will come 
That faithful to thy promise made, 
The footsteps that once hither stra3'ed. 

Here once again will roam. 



THERON G. OSBORNE, 

(TOM ALLEN, ) 

Was born at Lake Wj-nola, Wyoming countj', Pennsylvania. He was educated 
in the public schools and Wyoming Seminary. For several years he was en- 
gaged in newspaper work, the greater part of which was done on the Wilkes- 
Barre Leader. He is now principal of the public schools at Minooka. As a 
writer he is a master of the various forms of verse, has an extensive and well 
chosen vocabulary, and his inspiration is drawn from the living present and 
nature. His poems are delicate, refined, often subtle as well as strong. They 
are neither passionate nor sensational, but full of the warmth, richness and beauty 
of true poetic feeling. 

THE SLATE PICKERS. 



Out of the rattle and roar and boom. 

Clash and clang and rumble, 
Grinding of wheels and fret and fume. 
Culm of the chutes and the blackened room. 
Night-elves wriggling out of gloom. 

The breaker urchins tumble. 



Glad of their freedom who can doubt ? 

On with tremendous gabble 
From night within to light without,' 
Swinging tlieir cans with laugh and shout- 
Kick and clatter, rant and rout, 

Oh ! what a noisy rabble ! 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 



139 



Up the street with scurry and din, 

Iron-clad boots in riot, 
Dancing a jig or bairking a shin. 
Doubly smutted on lip and chin, 
Silhouettes of fantastic grin, 

Charging on peace and quiet. 

Droller specimens never were yet, 

Never a troupe more merry. 
Youth and maturity strangely met 
In an aptness for toddy, a game or a bet, 
A quid, a " cuss " or a cigarette, 
A caroiuel or a chcrrv. 



Like the clear-toned trill of a singing bird, 
'Mid a clang or discordant voices heard. 
Came tlirough the din of the noisy street 
The childish accents, rippling sweet, 

" Violets !" 

"Violets!" 

A timid form, a tattered gown, 
Free, flowing hair of softest brown. 
And eyes as rich in their azuie hue 



Looking for jewels? here in the rough. 

Grist of Toil's own grinding. 
Sturdy and staunch whate'er the rebuff, 
Giving a kick in exchange for a cuff. 
Gnarled and twisted, knotted and tough — 
Diamonds for the finding. 

Strength that will rise to mountain height. 

Impulse giving and sharing. 
Firmness to stand in the face of might. 
Courage to dare for tire true and the right — 
Mettle to temper the front of the fight 
With many a noble daring. 

VIOLETS. 

.^s the dainty gems held up to view — 
Violets, 
Violets. 



Ah, who could fail, with saddened mind, 
To chide himself, to chide mankind. 
For social evils that have made 
Such holy symbols stock in trade — 

Violets ! 

Violets ! 



HER WEDDING DAY. 



O tender grass ! with dewy jewels laden. 

Red-gold in the morning ray. 
You ne'er clad earth so rich for foot of maiden, 

As for my feet to-day. 

Stately moss rose, queen in thy modest dressing, 

Bending above my way. 
You never breathed so dear, so pure a blessing 

As you breathe on me to-day. 

Sweet-throated liird of olden oak and leaning. 
Thy love-impassioned lay 



Was never fraught with so divine a meaning 
As 't is for me to-day. 

Blithe bee, ficct-loitering blooming hill and 
On honied quest alwa}-, [hollow. 

My spirit never was so bent to follow 
.^nd sip as 't is to-day. 

O blade and bloom and bird and bee! o'erflowing 

With joy and love for aye, 
How could you fail to set my bosom glowing ? 

For this is mv wedding dav. 



THREE YANKEE FAIRIES. 



In a cavern mysterious. 

Wonderful, curious, 
Stala<ftite, stalagmite on ceiling and floor 

Dwell three little fairies 

As blithe as canaries 
Who dance all day long on an echoing shore. 

And over and under. 

An ominous thunder [clime 

Reels through their retreat from some turbulent 

Till you'd think in its antic, 

'T would render them frantic. 
Their ears are so keen to the touches of time. 



But the thunderbolt's clamor. 

Its fur%- and glamor, 
Ne'er ripple the mirth of this pert little band. 

For, when the bolts whistle. 

Each catches a missile. 
And fashions it into a magical wand. 

Their dress is romantic ; 

Caps, three-cornered, antique. 
White vests with red trousers, and jackets of blue; 

And no beings ever 

Had such magic ; no, never ! 
But here is an inkling of what they can do : 



140 



LITERATURE OF 



Is a heart to be captured ? 

Delighted, enraptured, 
Awaj' o'er the meadows aud clover-bloom sweet. 

Where the maiden reposes, 

Then from perfume of roses [plete. 
They weave a sure web, and the work is com- 

Aud if they want riches. 

These gay little witches, [join ; 

They hie where the bright fountains bubbling 

A motion — each bubble 

Has grown to a pebble, 
A touch, and each pebble 's a jingling coin. 

Then in revel delirious. 

Regal, imperious, [ring. 

With gold-spangled trappings that glisten and 

In derision they 'd pinion. 

The aesthete for a minion, 
And dance in liigh jest on the nose of a king. 



Is fame their desire ? 

They have but to require, [feet. 

And the mountain-bom echo lies tame at their 

Again at their willing. 

With obedience thrilling. 
It is off and forever their names to repeat. 

And if they would gain 

Fame ultra-mundane — 
A word — winged monsters the stars to explore ; 

Once more of their magic, 

(Aud oh, 'twould be tragic,) [four. 

They might drive this world like carriage and 

And these three little fairies. 

As blithe as canaries, 
Who, in all that they wish, are so certain to win. 

Triumvirate, pranky, 

Arc decidedly Yankee, [Chin. 

And their practical titles arc Cheek, Lip and 



THE PATCHES ON HIS COAT. 



Long purses do not always sport 

The highest kind of hat. 
Nor fine clothes always indicate 

A bank account that's fat ; 
And your judgment of your neighbor 

Will sometimes be remote. 
By adverse calculations 

On the patches of a coat. 

Oh, the patches, big and little, 

Placed on crossvi-isc, up and down, — 
The worsted on the shoddy. 

The green upon the brown, — 
The dainty ones that, stitched with care, 

Such loving hands denote — 
There are lessons for the learning 

In the patches of a coat ! 

See that school boy coming yonder. 
Bravely through the battling snow ! 

Basket swinging, tippet flying, 
And with cheek and eye aglow. 



Ah, what scenes of joy and comfort 
In his home-turned vision float ! 

You can tell it by the patches — 
Dainty patches on his coat. 

Mark you, too, that young mechanic. 

Striding onward through the mart. 
There is vigor in his bosom 

And courage iri his heart. 
Would you know a wife's devotion ? 

You may read it where she wrote, 
All unconscious, in the stitching 

Of the patches on his coat. 

Take the laborer or tradesman. 

Miner grim, or weary swain. 
Read the story of the patches. 

And the owner's life is plain ; 
Husband, wife — one to the other — 

Worth a fortune or a groat, 
Love and joy, negletfl and sorrow, 

In the patches of a coat. 



D. M. JONES, Esq. 

The subject of this sketch, was born in New York city, September 2d, 1843. 
Graduated from the Scranton High School, and also at the University at Lewis- 
burg, now Bucknell College, Pennsylvania, a member of the class of '67. Took 
the degree of Master of Arts in 1S70, on which accasion he read a poem before 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 141 

the Alumni Societ3^ In 1880, he was the chosen poet of the literary society 
of his Alma-Mater and recited a poem, written by him for the occasion, on 
William Lloyd Garrison. He has written considerable verse, much of which 
was published in the metropolitan press, and many hundreds of lines in the lead- 
ing columns of the Boston Pilot. But all this was the work of his leisure hours 
A lawyer by profession, he has been actively engaged in the practice of law for 
twenty years. With a mind, in reality, better adapted to the law than to litera- 
ture, his ability and general equipment as a lawyer has been, perhaps, too 
much lost sight of by reason of his popularity as a poet. Lippincott & Com- 
pany issued his first volume of verse, entitled "Lethe and Other Poems," in 
1882, and is now preparing a second volume for publication. Has been at 
various times the chosen poet of the Grand Army on Decoration Day, of the 
Robert Emmet Anniversary, was the orator Decoration Day in 1891, at Forty 
Fort, and the orator of the Grand Army exercises at Music Hall, Decoration 

Day, 1892. 

LOVE'S WOUNDS. 

Life the first-born of Eden's bowers, Death Last, 

.\nd Love that came beetwen — Mysterious Three; 

O Life and Death, at last on which of j'e 
Shall blame of Love, unkindest hurt be cast ? 
All located there, and ever^- sorrow passed. 

Whose pitying hand, whose balsam-dropping tree 

Left for those wounds and all that miserj' 
The sweetest cordial ? Death's the iconoclast ? 
Oh! Life, I fear. Love at the Last will say 

That thou, not Death, didst him severely smite 
.■\nd tell how, when he faint and bleeding lay 

By Time's roadside, Death softened at the sight, 

.\nd decently enwrapping tliem in white 
Took all the soreness from his wounds away. 

BURIED LOVE'S EPITAPH. 

Kind words, warm as Love's heart. Love's Living breath. 

In marble cold and white: O subtle flame 

Within whose charmed circle one dear name 
Defeateth the devouring jaws of death! 
Not heeding what the night wind muttereth. 

Smiling thro' storm and sunshine just the same, 

In this love shelter, more secure than fame. 
Content with what surviving Love's heart saith 
The marble's time-swept snow may drift away. 

lONE H. KENT, 

Was born in California, and now resides at Waymart, Pennsylvania. She is a 
graduate of the .^rt League, of New York city. She was one of the art critics 



142 LITERATURE OF 

for the World and Exptrss. Her poems have appeared in most of the leading 
periodicals of the country. She has made some fine translations of Heine's 
poems from the German. 

OUTWARD BOUND. 

Far out like snowy-winged butterflies Threaded with gold and a mocking light 
The sails flash white in the sun. Like the depths of a siren's eyes. 

And the waves roll in but they bring no word q^,,^. ^j^^. ^^^^,^^ ^ message brings, 
From the ships they meet, one by one. q"^^^ " ^^^^^ ^j,^ outward bound 

The waves roll in with their tawnv hues. To comfort the lonely they leave on shore 
Blendings of green where an opal dies And the comfort with sorrow is crowned. 

VIGIL. 

The storm put out the moon, as did the Moor While I, with e\-es by sleep unvisited 

Fair Desdemona's lamp; its passion spent Send forth my spirit on the midnight deep 

Southward it flees, while Night on vigil bent To seek out yours, in fancy you may keep 

Her rainbeads tells in reverie sweet and pure. iSome thought more sweet, some word as yet 

The wet leaves rustle strangely in the wind. 

Lisping like waves that lap a lonely shore. How needless were the touch of lip or hand 
Hinting fantastic laughter, gloating o'er To souls that meet, and meeting, understand! 

The dripping forest tangles few may find. 

THE LOST MAY. 

Each year the sassafras with feathery gold And when the wind at winter midnight shrills 
Bursts forth like sunshine woven into bloom; Past, like the spirit of a long regret 

The orchards foam with sweetness and unfold That's voiced in nature and the darkness thrills 

In brighter growth each day. The shy per- With loneliness and sleepless eyes are wet; 

fume When all the pent up agony has room 

Of woods steals out with subtle hints of deeps To free itself enshrouded in the gloom; 

Fern-scented where a long dim twilight sleeps, ^a. .. ^-i, j -in. • • i,-ii 

° s F Xhe earth still dreams amid the piercing chill 

The milk-white cherry blossoms drop their That holds life in a trance, of da)'s to come, 

pearls When from the dewy mazes shall distil 

Upon the gra.ss set thick with violets, The sweets of May. But they whose hearts 

And deftly by the road the brake uncurls are numb, 

From web-like wrappings and the maple lets They know that only once for them may dawn 

Its coral pendants stir uneasily Life's May-time and its tender hours are gone. 
As quick with life and loth to set it free. 

DAWN. 

The heavens quicken with a newer life; With one sweet strain of song — then hushed 

The stars grow timid and the shadows shrink again, 

Behind the hedges in the noiseless strife As if a violin-bow lightly drawn . 

Of Day with Night. We tremble on the brink .A-cross the strings at prelude, should pause then 
Of sound amid a silence so intense One breathless nionient — till the white-winged 

We dread to have it broken, till a bird dawn 

In yonder thorn-bush, startled, breaks the sense Flashes thro' hollow skies, and eastward grows 

Of stillness and the dew}- leaves are stirred With trembling leaves the morning's fairest 

rose. 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 143 

EDWARD ALEXANDER NIVEN 

Was born in Livingston county, New York, and raised in Buffalo. In 1856 he 
went to New York city, and entered the mercantile business in the wholesale 
hardware firm of which his uncle was a member. Commerce was not to his 
liking, and he quietly drifted into newspaper work. In 186 1 he enlisted and 
served nearly two years in the Army of the Potomac, being taken pri.soner at the 
battle of Savage's Station, June 29, 1862. He subsequently served in a battery 
of light artillery with Sherman's army, in the famous inarch to the sea. Return- 
ing to New York after the war, Mr. Niveu went to work as a reporter, and served 
in that capacity for eight or nine years in that city. He afterwards traveled as 
a correspondent for several papers, and during his career as a newspaper man 
has worked on some of the most popular journals from Maine to California. Mr. 
Niven's great-grandfather, Daniel Niven, was a Captain of Engineers in the 
War of the Revolution, and raised a company at Newburg, New York. He has 
written much in his time for magazines and weekly story papers, but newspaper 
work claimed his constant attention. 

SABBATH BELLS. 

When the Sabbath bells are ringing And there comes again to me 

And blossoms greet the eye ; The music of a song I learned 

When the mcrr3- birds are singing Beside my mother's knee 

Where tlie woodland shadows lie, When the Sabbath bells were ringing. 

Then 'neath the spell of mcm'rv ,,., .u i^ uu ..1 1 n ■ „•„„ 

^ - \\ hen the Sabbath bells are rmging 

From care mv heart is free, 01 ut, j' j i, „i „„„;„ 

' Childhood s days come back again, 

And I'm a little child again , , , 1 , ' _i ta; ;„„ 

° And mv lonely heart, outninging 

Beside my mother's knee _^lj .'^ ^^^^;^. ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ . 

When the Sabbath bells are ringing. though my locks be whitening slowly 

When the Sabbath bells are ringing .\nd the graye hides all from me. 

In the summer time so sweet. Thank God for loving songs I heard 

.\nd the sun his gold is flinging Beside my mother's knee 

Where the lane and orchard meet, When the Sabbath bells were ringing. 
Then I close my eyes and listen, 

UNFAILING. 

Say, Hannah, can you tell me why the papers of to-day, 
About the marriage bus'ness have so very much to say ? 
Is there no such thing as honor now, where Cupid's bow is hung. 
No lovin' like there used to be, when you and I were j-ouug? 

'T is lorty j'ears ago, when by the homestead hearth, dear wife, 
We stood afore the preacher and bound ourselves for life ; 
Your cheeks were like the roses then, your tresses dark as night. 
While flashin' 'neath your lashes, dear, was Heaven's holy light. 

I mind me of our sparkin' time, the gladness that was real. 
When you and I together sat close by the spinnin' wheel. 



144 LITERATURE OF 

With the kettle singin' softly just Ijefore us ou the hearth, 
And both our hearts rejoicin' in the glow of honest mirth. 

Oh ! those were happy days, dear, when Love began to shed 

Its blossoms on the pathway that just before us spread. 

And, Hannah, though your tresses dark have long since turned to gray. 

The roses that were on your cheeks are bloomin' there to-daj'. 

And as I look at you to-night, you seem the same to me 
As when I met you first, dear heart, beneath the old roof-tree ; 
The music of your voice the same, that cheered and gladdened so, 
In those early days of happiness, some forty years ago. 

We've had our ups and downs, dear wife, with grief been made acquaint. 
But Love has ever held a balm to soften Sorrow's plaint ; 
At times, when darkest clouds obscured the daylight from our way, 
How soon they passed, when you, dear wife, bent silently to pray. 

Oh ! Hannah, I have often thought, when absent from your side. 
What might have been my lot if 3'OU had never been my bride ; 
How different might have been the life that love has gilded so, 
If 3'OU had not stood by my side, some forty years ago. 

And sittin' by the fire to-night, I fold you in my arms. 
And wonder whether Heaven holds a gift of sweeter charms ; 
Enriched by time, your precious life has grown into my own. 
While glad contentment's holv light o'er Ijoth our hearts is thrown. 

Though wild the winter night without, with echoes so forlorn, 
vScrene as paradise, the spot where our first babe was born, 
And though the band is scattered now that once rejoiced us so, 
Thank God the same old love remains of forty years ago ! 

It can't be long afore, dear wife, we'll enter Heaven's day, 
For both our heads are holdin' now its glory streaks of grav. 
And though we part this side the grave, the one who goes afore 
Shall briefly wait to greet again the lovin' mate of yore. 

With rounded years of wedded bliss, God's angel standin' near, 
And lovin' as we used to love, oh what have we to fear ? 
Eternitv shall blossom with the sweetness and the glow 
Of the flower our fond hearts planted some forty years ago. 

Mrs. H. G. WATRES, 

The mother of Louis A. Watres, Lieutenant-Governor of Pennsylvania, lived and 
died in Lackawanna county. Her poems appeared in the leading publications 
and her published collection of poems, " Cobwebs," was well received. 

WYOMING. 

THE ONE HUNDREDTH .\NNIVERSARY. 

Over the dust of a century's dead. Soft as the strains of the lute o'er the sea. 

Hushed be our laughter and muffled our tread; Let the deep chords of our symphonies be; 
Voice no loud antliem ; we stand where they Noiseless the footfall, and low-bowed the head, 

stood — [blood; Over the dust of a century's dead. 

Kinsmen that hallowed the turf with their 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 



H5 



Who has not shuddered, witli checks ashen pale 
At the appalling and soul-thrilling talc, 
Traced o'er the page of a weird long ago, 
With the deep pathos of measureless woe ? 
Who never traversed — tho' seas roll between — 
Cool breathing wildwood and shadowed ravine, 
Where rang the war-whoop and bended the bow 
Of a red-handed and treacherous foe? 

Curls the blue smoke from homes so apart 
That never quickened a throb of the heart. 
O'er the dire storj- of rapine and wrong, 
Blighting our beautiful valley so long ? 
Stretches a solitude — gloom-girt and far — 
Where gleams a sunbeam or glitters a star. 
That never caught, from the night-wailing blast. 
Hints of our tragic and terrible past? 

As clears the mist from the forehead of night, 
Brightened the sky: see! w'hat sparkle, what 

light, 
O'er the green slope of meadow and hill, 
Where the wild roses are nodding at will : 

MY 

A moonless night, when the old forests shiver- 
By gales from the seaward torn; [ed — 

A pang, a passion, and a jo^- all crowning, 
And thou, beloved, wert bom. 

Thou hest beside me, tender, voiceless, plead- 
All worn and wearj' I; [ing; 

And yet to call thee mine, a half smile lightly 
Beats back the started sigh. 

Thou grewest shaped in sadness and in long- 
How else should child of mine, [>ng; 

When the great world its cruel wrongs went cry- 
.\nd my life nourished thine. [i"g. 

I smile and weep by turns, and would caress 
.And yet between us stands [thee 

The scoffer Doubt, with menacing and mock- 
.\nd I withdraw my hands. [ing; 



Over the river that moaned in its fiow. 
Twice fifty perilous summers ago, 
Where by its tide in the sunset's low fires. 
Fell, with slow torture, our fiend-hunted sires. 

Down the far centuries — winding their way 
'Mong the gray vapors of time — shall the claj'. 
Tenderly wrapped at the granite's pure feet. 
Be all forgot in life's hurry and heat? 
No ! sob the waves from the nmse-haunted shore ; 
Xo! sighs the forest, with arms drooping lower; 
Nor may the years — swift as eagles above. 
Purge the red stain from the Valley \vc love. 

Over a centur>-'s historic dust. 
This be our legac;.-, this our proud trust — 
That no invading and arrogant tread 
Press the dear turf folded over our dead: 
.And the sweet tide of each incoming spring 
To our fair homes no disloyalty bring: 
This be our legacy, this our proud trust, 
Over a centurs-'s love-hallowed dust. 



POEM. 

Shall others call thee fair, oh, born of sorrow, 

Or is it only I ? 
Should I unloose the cage that holds the cap- 

.And bid thee outward fly ? [tive, 

Is there a heart, of all that hold their throb- 
To listen human song, [bings 

To thrill responsive with the same sad passion, 
That swept my own so long ? 

Into some home where souls are sick with wait- 

.A sweet hope long deferred, [ing 

Would the dull eye glance upward at thy com- 

• As at the spring-time bird ? [ing, 

If thou shouldst flutter softly forth, and follow 

The pathway of the morn. 
Afar my life would watch thee, and remember 

The hour when thou wert born. 



W. GEORGE POWELL 

Was born at Scranton, in 1866, but lived during the most important period of his 
life at St. Clair, Schuylkill county. In 1886 he removed to Kingston, and 
three years later accepted the positio:i of Principal of the Hyde Park Preparatory 
School in his native city, where he .still remains. Dnrin.::: the last summer he 
spent ten weeks in Europe, visiting poetic shrines in England, France, and 



146 LITERATURE OF 

Switzerland. The literar}- productions of Mr. Powell nowhere betray the work 
of the novice. Whatever is attempted or determine-! upon is completed in an 
artistic manner, strongh- sustained, thorough and masterly. Neither is he lured 
away from the chosen line of pursuit by flowery by-paths into which so many 
are tempted. With a keen regard for consistency he keepr, steadily on, satisfied 
to avail himself of the material that falls naturalh' in his way. never sacrificing 
the end in view to an undue poetic flight, a far-fetched figure or a brilliant array 
of well-sounding, but unnecessary words. Like all student authors, Mr. Powell 
is an experimenter and he has written on all sorts of subjects, both in prose and 
verse. But whatever the nature of the theme in hand, his style and expression 
are in true accord therewith, be it the creation of a poem, the analysis of a rock, 
or a critique on literature. But although brilliant as an all-around writer, it is 
chiefly as a poet we would regard him ; for whether he writes in verse or prose, 
whether he weaves the dainty texture of a dream or wields the sharp blade of 
literary or scientific discussion, his poetic temperament shines forth at times like 
mica in the sand, and again with the glory of dawn, but bespeaking ever the 
genuine poetic fire within. Were we disposed to find fault it would be an easy 
matter to point out defects as to minor particulars, versification and sentiment. 
Our greatest writers are not free from shortcomings, especially in their earlier 
writings. But if it be not out of order injthe purpose of the present article, we 
might express the opinion that the greatest defect of our author is too violent 
self-criticism, the outcome of possessing a high ideal of the art and resulting in 
a temerity to spread his wings to a more untrammeled and lofty flight. This 
after a review of his published writings, but more especially of his man\- unpub- 
lished ones, which show in a greater degree the extent of his resources and the 
fertility of his powers. Were he less occupied in the educational field, wherein 
he is engaged, and more necessitated to write and publish, we believe he would 
prove himself capable of the highest results in literature. 

REVERY. 

(Unpublished Poems, 1891.) 

I walk beneath the dense, moon-hiding trees; And now, I come into the open field, 

The crickets rasp their wings more timidly, With eyes uplifted toward creation's chart; 

And not so much from fear, it seems, of me. The serious, patient stars are coldly steeled — 
.A.S with a gentle reverence to please, [seize. They give no sign to make the true word 
Listening, as though my fancies they would start. 

I bend my head to their sweet courtesy; O soul, wilt thou uot to expression yield ? 

Through them, I feel the earth's mute s^'ui- Why be nor deaf nor blind, yet dumb, O 
patliy heart. 

With these high moods, to which speech has no 
key. 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 147 

THACKERAY. 
POETIC SATELLITES. 

O Thackeray, not a.s it ha.s been deemed In its own saddened song. 

By hasty readers, is thy flashing page; Clierishcd caress 

Not cynical, and cold, and showing rage [ed. Ne'er came, but icy fling of .sphinx-like stare, 
But ill-concealed — as some have careless dream- To greet his fond affections in the ranks 
Ah, no! thy wounded tone was such as beamed Of selfish men. Thev left him penniless, 
From heart where love was shut as in a cage. Like a spendthrift robbed of all but care. 
And captive held, while no one would assuage His giant gift returned with dwarfish thanks. 
Its pangs with sympathy, like that which 
streamed 

THE QUIET EARTH. 
(Uupublished Poems, iSgl.) 
This noisy zuorld — the phrase is often heard; .\ silence is a mimic death incurred. 

But such the earth is not, except to him, tj-i 1 ^ ^ ^\ 11 r .1 ,^ 

'' li he but cast the shadow of a thought 

With pavement-staring eves and fancy dim, .. »i ., r ^ ^ u r > 

f , , , . - ,, , .-' Upon the far stretches of ocean s waste; 

Who ne er bevond the citv wall has stirred. /-^ » • 1 m • t . 

On tropic selvas .\lpine peaks snow-wrought; 

The stern, mute realm of space frights not the Old Egypt's sands; the Arctics, ice encased — 

bird He then will feel that all man's shrieking riot. 

Forever used o'er leagues of calm to skim; Is but a sigh in earth's eternal quiet. 

But, to your street-entangled burgher prim, 

THE BETTER LIFE. 

(Unpublished Poems.) 

The mountain height And lo! these teach — 

Has brighter day and briefer night .\bove the dull, brown earth of speech. 
Than lowly vale. The wings of thought 

The air is clearer. Should soar transcendent, 

.\nd Heaven with its stars is nearer. With glories of the soul attendant. 

Than through the vapors purple-pale To heights from purity snow-wrought. 

Of dark-retreating, sunken dale. Where man to God is nearer brought. 

HARRISON WRIGHT, Ph. D. 

Mr. Wright, probably the most scholarly of the historic Wright family, pre- 
pared many valuable papers, of a scientific, historical or a general charadler. 
His tintimely death was a severe loss to higher culture in Wyoming Valley. 
The following verses represent his metrical compositions : 

KL/ENGE DER LIEBE. 

It wa,s long, long ago, on a summer day. But the soul of the player was all my own, 

Far over the cruel sea. And its " Klasnge der Liebe " were mine. 

That Gretchen at the piano sat ■<r„„„„ r-„t„i,„„ a:..a „ *u a 

\ , . ioung Gretchen died, so the sad news came 

Playing " KlEenge der Liebe forme. ,, r ^, 

■^ ° \ ears ago from over the sea. 

The piano was rickety, patchcd-up and old. But in memory I see her sitting there yet, 

And its tones were far from divine. Playing " Klsengc der Liebe " to me. 



148 



LITERATURE OF 



CELA FAIT UN EFFET SI DROLE. 



Is it fair when yon glance at a maid, 
In the glance throwing all of your soul, 

To be told by the charming young maid 
" Cela fait un effet si drole?" 

Is it fair when you press a soft hand 



To be told by the owner in fee, 
' ' Cela fait un effet si drole ?' ' 

Is it fair when you kiss ruby lips, 

Till your heart throbs you cannot control. 
To hear then the same lips repeat 



Till vour warm blood tempestuous doth roll, " Cela fait un effet si drole ? 

SUSAN E. DICKINSON, 

Sister of Anna Dickinson, has contributed to tlie metropolitan press for many 
years. She is now on the editorial staff of the Scraiiton Truth. 



FISHER'S SONG. 

(Written to the air " Let All Obey,'' from Balfe's Opera 

Wake, comrades, wake, to greet the morn! 

When sunrise smiles in orient skies, 
Our boat upon the lake upborne 

Should gently float till daylight dies. 

Chorus: 

No joy of summer's greenwood bowers 

Is like the angler's for delight; 
Who spends with us the golden hours 
Will find them well his choice requite. 

For us the wood-thrush tunes his song; 



The Euchantress.") 

For us the forest's balmy air; 
Ours, too, while summer days are long. 
The sweetest rest from toil and care. 
Chorus: No joy, etc. 

Haste, comrades, haste! Not ours to sigh, 

" Oh, for a boy's free life once more!" 
No child heart can earth, wave and sky 
So crown with gladness brimming o'er. 
Chorus: No joy, etc. 



Mrs. VERONA COE HOLMES 

Was born in Michigan. Her father was a minister. She was carefully educated 

and was a teacher for a number of years. She now resides in West Pittston. 

Some of her poems have not been surpassed by any lady writer of the present 

day. 

ONE NIGHT. 

' (From the Wyoming Magazine.) 



I heard the spring rain falling, in the night ; 
And lying long awake, bethought me, then, 
Of waste and solitary ways, of vale and height, 
Remote and vague, unvisited of men : 

Of lone pine-barrens where the twinkling eyes 
Of forest-fires were winking, and of all 
The by and brambly paths, the wooded rise. 
The fallow fields whereon the night rains fall. 

I heard the risen stream, along the glade. 
Run noisily; and thought of nooks and caves 
Rain-drenched, of tiny, wrinkled lakelets made 
In grassy hollows, 'twixt old church-vard graves. 



I slipped, methought, the leash of flash and rart 
Untircd, alone, among the rainy hills; 
Along the woods where restive buds began 
To bulge and burst. I felt impulsive thrills, 

The inner tumult, and strenuous stir 
Of quickened germs; a sudden passion rife; 
In riven husk and seed-pod sepulcher. 
Declared the " Resurrection and the i,ife." 

I, running, read the riddle of the earth 
The hidden thing, the subtle and the strange ; 
Perceived that Life led on from birth to birth 
Up, up the mounting spiral-rounds of change. 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 



149 



Life all about, in stem and bough and bud, 
Announced itself; where low in ruin lay 
The rotting l)olc, there life arose, renewed, 
Intensified and strengthened through decay. 

I learned the vernal processes, the might 
Of moisture and of warmth. My spirit scanned 
The labors of the Lord by that strange "light 
That never is nor was on sea or land." 



And I discerned in frost, and fire and wind, 
Sun-warmth and vernal rains, in drouth and 

dearth. 
Earthquake and flood, creative forces joined. 
To change and cheer, to mar and mold the earth . 

" My homing spirit called aloud, elate — 
I see the broken Imd, the leaf uncurled, 
The storms that smite, the seas that rise; I wait, 
I watch, the ceaseless building of a world." 



I, THE CRICKET. 



Kr-r-ee! Kr-r-ee! — 

I sit on the door-stone and rasp nu- wings. 

As the cool comes on and the darkness brings 

Owlet and bat and fire-fly fine 

Into this dusky domain of mine. 

Kr-r-ee! Kr-r-ec! — 

I keep open house, for a hinge let go [fro — 
In a month-ago wind-storm, and forward and 
At the beck of the breeze — tip-tilted, askew, 
Swings the door the day long or the gusty night 
through. 

Kr-r-ee! Kr-r-ee! — 

I keep open house; those holes in the wall 
Out-staring, opaque, are the windows. The hall 
Opens wide to all weathers. The shower and 

the shine 
Come at will, goat will, in this mansion of 

mine. 

Kr-r-ee! Kr-r-ee! — 

I'm a sociable soul. I've a comrade's regard 

For the burrowing mole, in the nettle-choked 

yard. 
And the blundersomc lieetle, that buzzes and 

booms — 
Of a moonlighted night — through the echoing 

rooms. 



Kr-r-ec! Kr-r-ee! — 

Here was gladness, here grief, in the days that 

are gone. 
Here was warmth, where the hearthst.!. les lie 

shattered and prone. 
But failed has the flame and the sight and the 

song, [long. 

And alone, I, the cricket, chirp blithely and 

Kr-r-ee! Kr-r-ee! — [set 

Who were here have departed. The sweet brier 
Where a hedge was aforetime survives them as 
yet. [wall. 

Near the jungle of vines in yon nook of the 
See, their pied tiger-lilies rise tawny and tall. 

Kr-r-ec! Kr-r-ee! — [days 

Yet to me what their feasts or their fasts, or the 
Of their births or bereavements? I lie in tlie 
haze, [to be 

And the summer is sweet, and to breathe and 
Is wealth for a happy-go-lucky like me. 

Kr-r-ee! Kr-r-ee! — [on ; 

So I chirp my delight, when the evenings come 
Soft saiidaled, gray-kirtled, from under the 

stone 
At the spider-webbed door-way I flit unafraid, 
And m\- own love I woo, with my shrill sere- 
nade. 



BENJAMIN H. PRATT 



Was introduced to the light and air of this dizzy sphere of existence on the 
tenth day of August, 1S34, in the town of Taunton, State of Massachusetts. 
He worried through teething in Boston, donned his first pants in New York 
city, endured his initial educational coercion in Brooklyn, New York, and con- 
tinued the ordeal of scholastic training in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He was 
further grounded in the "three R's" at the district school of Ralston, 



I50 



LITERATURE OF 



Pennsylvania. His preparation for college was compelled at the Danville, 
Pennsylvania, Academy, and in 1853 he was matriculated at Lafayette College, 
Easton, Pennsylvania, from which institution he was graduated in 1857. The 
eight succeeding years were occupied with the studj' and practice of dentistry at 
Elmira and Bath, New York, when failing health caused an abandonment of his 
chosen profession. A two-years' course of medical study, combined with jour- 
nalistic work on the Elmira Advertiser and Gazette and the Troy Times, satisfied 
him that a due regard for health necessitated a change of occupation. Called to 
the principalship of the Danville, Pennsylvania, Academy, he filled that posi- 
tion three years, after which he became a member of the bookselling firm of 
Hall & Pratt, at Scranton, removing there in 1870. The life of the firm was 
three years, and Mr. Pratt became the city editor of the Scranton Daily Times, 
occupying the position four years. In 1877 he became the Legislative reporter 
of the Scranton Republican, and afterward its Wilkes-Barre manager. After 
oscillating between the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre departments of the Republi- 
can for twelve years, in 1889 he was appointed Assistant Postmaster at Scranton, 
Pennsylvania, which position he at present holds. 

STRAPPING A TRUNK. 



The romance of a summer trip consists en- 
tirely in thinking about it. It's all \cxy pleas- 
ant to think up what you'll wear, and all the 
nice places you'll go to and sec, and how you'll 
do just as you please, with nobu.siness to both- 
er you, and all that. The reality of the thing, 
however, is very irksome, and about tlie first 
real drawback you experience is in getting 
vour trunk ready for the hackmau. Wife 
comes to you all smiles and just running over 
with the joy and excitement of going away, 
and reports everything all ready except " O, 
Dearie ! there is that trunk of mine to be clos- 
ed up and strapped. " You find the trunk in 
a hot closet; it's just foaming over with ap- 
parel. You begin to poke and prod it — push 
and squeeze it — press the lid down and find it 
won't shut within three inches — repeat the pro- 
cess — sit down on it — jump on it — and finally 
get it sprung to. Then you find the straps and 
try to buckle one — pull and tug and sweat — 
hole doesn't come right. You take your jack- 
knife and make a new hole, and pulling it 
through the buckle, try again with no success — 
hole isn't big enough — cut again, and being a 



trifle mad by this time, you cut carelessly and 
sever tlie strap. Then you are mad. You ex- 
amine the trunk carefully and conclude that 
one strap will hold it, so you give all your 
muscle to the other one, and just as you afe 
congratulating yourself that the buckle-tongue . 
is going nicely into the hole, wife calls from 
below to say the hack's come and are you 
ready ? and you give one final strain which 
bursts the buckle oflF, and as it's too late for re- 
pairs you are well nigh a maniac in looks and 
feelings and actions. But you smother your 
wrath and wipe your face with your span clean 
handkerchief, telling the hackmau to take the 

trunk and go to well, wherever you're 

going ; and you tear around in such a state as 
to overhear your wife say to a neighbor, who 
has called to say good by, "it always makes 
him mad to strap a trunk," and she's right. 
If we have to strap trunks we want a harness 
shop handy by, and somebody to call on for 
appropriate expressions that hasn't got any 
quaker notions in his head about some things 
not orthodox. 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 



151 



MINT 

If there is any doubt in your mind as to the 
nature of this compound, you may satisfy your- 
self b}- having a few made to order, and absorb- 
ing them into your system. You will discover, 
upon going out, that nature has assumed a 
misty veil, and single oljjects are becoming 
twofold in character, and are flippantly en- 
gaged in tripping each other fantastically. 
The walks will playfully remind you of " tick- 
ly bender" days, and ebb and flow in graceful 
undulations beneath and about you. If you 
can tear yourself from the fascinations of these 
novel scenes, and seek the quiet precincts of 
your cottage home, you will be surprised at 
the number of residences on your street, sim- 
ilar to your own, and smile at your success in 
being able to enter them all at once. The plu- 
rality of wives and children within, and espec- 
ially the twin babies, will absorb your interest 
for a while, so that you will scarcelj- mind the 
tears of your several wives, and their repeated 
inquiries as to what respect you can have for 



JULKP. 

them, and their reminders of your marital 
promises to respect, etc. You will find relief 
possibly in mentioning to them tliat there is 
no law compelling them to stay there, and that 
upon second thought it would improve matters 
to eliminate the whole party. It may enter 
your mind to apply physical force in effecting 
this, and over estimation of your ability may 
result in a reverse, and the fracture of sundry 
articles of the household, in the possession of 
which vou have been in the afore time proud. 
Then you will lie down, and gaze upon a pecu- 
liar figure in the carpet, display your disgust 
therefor by covering it ignominiousU- with a 
miscellaneous compound, the several ingredi- 
ents of which will be recognized as being a 
portion of the viands your dinner table afford- 
ed. Sleep will doubtless close the animated 
scene, and on the following morning you will 
probably decline the delicacies your only re- 
maining wife has so thoughtfully provided for 
her wretch. 



LUCK! 
We believe in and 



Don't believe in it? We do 
lucky stars. Some folks are always lucky — al- 
ways getting the drawing ticket in a lottery — 
are invariably finding something — never lose 
anything — everything goes swimmingly with 
them. In infancy they don't get colic, nor 
birch, and have a grandmother alwa}'S on hand. 
In boyhood the lucky chap always wins all the 



fish hooks and forget all about it — he 
doesn't tear his trowsers — doesn't go 'round 
with a toothache — never has to sleep alone — 
goes home when he likes — has an aunt to fur- 
nish him pocket money. When a man he 
doesn't have any poor relations — pays no taxes 
— doesn't have to sit on a jury — never is asked 
to "subscribe" — never misses a train — isn't 



marbles — has a new jack-knife — goes barefoot dead broke — isn't called-upon to make a speech 



in summer — escapes all the chores — has a nice 
lie handy for every occasion — gains the smiles 
of the prettiest girl — doesn't have mumps and 
measles and itch — never stubs his toe — the 
girls give him candy — the boys lend him halls 



— doesn't have to edit a paper — goes to all the 
shows — waited on first at table — doesn't have 
bilious spells — wife doesn't blow him up — for 
he's one of the jolly dogs that ill luck doesn't 
touch. We believe in luck. 



FRANK HUMPHREYS, 



Was born near Minersville, Scluivlkill county, Penn.sylvania, on June 2, 1859, 
and removed to this city in 1873. He learned the printing trade. When nine- 
teen years of age he made a tour of the United States with the Wallace Sisters' 
Dramatic Combination as a flutist, and he has several times since traveled with 
show parties. The subject of our sketch is now employed as a flutist at Glen 
Summit in the summer season, and in Wilkes- Barre during the balance of the 



152 



LITERATURE OF 



year. The longest and mo?t ambitious poem he has yet published is " Amabel," 
a tale of Wyoming Valley. 



A MAY OF 

'Twas in a May of a Long Ago — 

How long it seems to nie ! 
The earth and the sky, to ra3' witched eye — 

The earth and the sky and and the sea — 
Were fairer than ever a dream of heaven, — 
Were fairer than dream to the sanctified given; — 
'Twas the light of love, reflected above, — 

'Twas the light of the form bj' me. 

Oh, fair was the moon in that Long Ago, 

And sweet was the song of the breeze ! 

Each glorious star sent its twinkling afar 
To brighten the whispering trees ; 

But fairer bv far than the moon in her pride. 



LONG AGO. 
Or the stars round about was the form bj' mj^ 

side ; 
And sweeter the charm of the vanished form 
Than the tendercst song of the breeze. 

There's been many a May since that Long Ago, 
And many a song of the wind ; [shone 
And oft have the moon and the liright stars 
On the boughs as they geuHy entwined ; 
But fled is the grace of the Long Ago, 
And I would that the Mays were more swift in 

their flow ; 
For gone is the form, and gone is May's charm, 
A^nd dull is tlie song of the wind. 



MARIE M. PURSEL, 



Born in Wilkes-Barre, graduated from the public schools in 1873. First writ- 
ings appeared in IVyomiiig Magazine. Taught in public schools in Wilkes- 
Barre. Daughter of S. C. IMontanye. 

UNDER THE BRIDGE. 



Under the bridge the river flows. 
Over the bridge a toiler goes, 
Wearv his footsteps, heavj' and slow. 
Swiftly the water rushes below. 
Over the Ijridge waits sorrow and care, 
Under — the water looks cooling and fair, 
Murmuring accents his dull ears greet, 
" Rest is sweet — rest is sweet 
Under the bridge." 

Pausing he listens, and looks below 
Where phantom arms wierd shadows throw 
As they reach above from the deep dark pool. 
Beckoning down to the waters cool — 
" Come ! here is rest from toil and pain ; " 
" Come ! here's relief for the weary brain ; " 
A uionieut he lingers, a mnrmured prayer, 
A pluniic — and the river runs smoothly and fair 
Under ilie bridge. 



" Only a suicide gone to his doom," 

As they gaze on the form in the darkened room ; 

" One more soul from the world apart," 

" One man less with an aching heart." 

.■^ud the busy crowd goes hurrying on. 

Caring naught for the one just gone. 

Over the bridge quick footsteps go. 

Cool and inviting the waters flow 

Under the bridge. 

Over the lengthening bridge of time 
Millions are passing, men in their prime. 
Age, bent under the weight of years. 
Childhood, careless of grief and fears. 
Youth in its beauty — quickly and slow 
Over the wonderful bridge they go ; 
Over with haste, in the world's mad quest 
To find at the end but a long, last rest 
L'nder the bridge. 



Hon. STEUBEN JENKINS. 

Mr. Jenkins was naturall\' of antiquarian and literary tastes. He spent much 
time in the study of local histor}-, and wrote extensively on this subject, intend- 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 153 

ing to publish what he hoped should stand among theiconsiderable number of local 
histories, as the Wyoming history. A number of papers on special points were 
made up by him from this main work, and read at the Commemorative Associa- 
tion and other meetings of a historical charadler, and some of these papers have 
been printed. Most of this matter, however, remains in manuscript. He con- 
tributed much to other writers on this subjedl and not a few who have published, 
make more or less full acknowledgement of his assistance. There were, perhaps, 
others where such acknowledgement was deserved but omitted. As a diver- 
sion, he sometimes attempted verse. In the judgment of the writer hereof, of 
some of his best efforts in this line, had for their inspiration local events, and 
were satirical in character. He was not given to public criticism, but could not 
resist an inclination to tliese literary effusions, and usually, after perhaps read- 
ing them to a friend or two, destroyed them. He had studied Latin and Greek 
at school and read them freely all his life. Finding use for them in his histori- 
cal research, he afterwards mastered French, Italian, and German, and trans- 
lated considerabl}- from them. During his legislative terms he made some 
speeches of more than passing interest, but these, like most of his work in his 
profession of the law, would hardly be classed as literary work. His literary 
reputation will undoubtedly rest, principally upon his historical addresses and 
the, as yet, unpublished Wyoming History. 

MASS.\CRE OF WYOMING. 

(Read at mouumeut, 3rd July, 1878.) 

To rid us of a tyrant's chain Th' invading host was fierce and strong. 

Our fathers fell ; and not in vain They swift pursued the flying throng. 

They marched to battle and were slain, They swept tlic plain, they passed along 

And with their blood bedewed this plain ; .\nd killed or captured old and young ; 
Thc}- fought for home and liberty. And few they saved for torturing. 

A British-Tory-Savage band They gave no quarters, spared no life. 

Had come to desolate their land : — Of all, who, in the battle's strife, 

•Should they like cowards fly ? or stand Had fought for home, for children, wife, — ■ 

And meet th' invaders liand to hand With spear, and tomahawk, and knife. 
And drive them back, if that they maj- ? They gave them o'er to butcherj-. 

Xrike freemen, valiant, true and brave, While time shall in full torrent swell, 

They marched to victory or the grave. Queen Esther's bloody rock shall tell 

While o'er their head their banners wave, Of demon orgies, Indian yell. 

And from their God, they blessings crave, That stunned the victims ere they fell 
To guide them on to victor}-. On that dread night of massacre. 

Thev^ met in battle's stem array ; Nations and people, all unite 

Dire was the conflict ; dire the day ; To danni the deeds done that dread night 

Borne down by odds, in short, sharp fray. On tortured men, homes blazing bright, 

The gallant patriot-band gave way, .A.nd call on God to curse and blight 

And fled from horrid slaughtering. The cause that worked such infamy. 



154 



LITERATURE OF 



But few of that heroic baud 
Who marched th' invaders to withstand, 
And save from ruin their loved land, 
Survived the battle's bloody brand 
To see their country's victory. 

A hundred years have rolled away 
Since on that sad, ill-fated daj', 
Our fathers fell in bloody fray ; 
And we are gathered here to pay 

Due honors to their memory. 



They who beneath these tablets lie. 
This lesson taught posterity — 
'Tis sweet and glorious to die 
For country', home, and liberty, 

Yea, sweeter far than slavery. 

Then let us, o'er their honored grave. 
The glorious flag of freedom wave ! 
Keep green the memory of the brave ! 
Wave, freeman ! all your banners wave ! 
In honor of their memorv. 



T. P. RYDER, 



Formerlj' a teacher in the public schools and late in the Prothonotary's ofBce, and 

at present on the editorial staff o{ the Wilkes-Barre J?eco/'d of f//e Times. His- 
productions have appeared in current literature and many of the leading metro- 
politan papers. 

THE OLD RAIL FENCE. 

I like them ol' rail fences 'cuz they mind me 'N ez I h'isted off the rail 'at pinned her down 

uv a day so tight. 

What cums but once in all our lives 'n scl- " O, thankee, Pete," she wispered low, her 

dom cums ter stav ; eyes a beamin' bright. 

But fills the h'art 'ith moosic sweet ez y'ars 'n ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^ ,^^,^^ tergither, 'n afore we 

y'ars roll by, reached the gate, 

'N make us wish 'tw'ud cum ag'in jest once ^ ^^.^ j^^^ ^^ ^1^^ ^,i^,^,j ^^^-^^ j,^ ^^^^^ ^ 

afore we die. 1^1.^1^ ^^^^ 

My ! how the sun did shine that day 'n how the Fur a gal erbout her inches, — then she hung 

bu'dsdid sing ! her purty he'd, 

'N natur' smiled so lovin'ly on ev'ry livin' 'N "ye'r awful good at h'istin' rails," wuz 

thing ; all the word she sed. 

It seem'd ez ef in all the y'arth thar wa'n't a ^v^n^ ^^^^^. ^ ^.jgg^^ i^^^^ ■„ j,^^j ^^,^,^^ l^.j^j^^ 

single sigh, fj.Qjjj p^^l^ „jj^p^ 

'Cept the wind up in the branches, biddin' ^hese two score v'ars 'at me 'n Kit hez 

all the leaves good-bye. tramped along tegither, 

'Pears like ez if it happen'd jest a leetle while 'N tho' sumtimes they nied us bend like trees 

er go : afore the blast 

I wuz stroUin' thro' the medder, whis'lin They brung us all the closer to each other at 

suthin' soft 'n low, the last — 
'N jest got to the ol' rail fence when sum one 

hollered "Pe-t-e !" , 

.,-n, , , US UV a day 
Please cum daown n help me aout, th' rail 

hez co't my f-e-e-t ! " 



'N we love them ol' rail fences 'cuz thev 'mind 



'At cum but once in all our lives, but sum'- 
how cum ter stay, 

Ye kin bet I hus'led lively 'cuz I know'd twuz 'N fills our h'arts 'ith moosic sweet ez y'ars 'n 
leetle Kit, y'ars go by, 

(Sence last purtracted meeting, we'd bin on 'N makes us wish twud stay right on until 
the outs a bit,) the day we die. 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 155 

FREDERICK CROSS, M. D., 

Is a strong and versatile writer. He has an extensive acquaintance with all 
branches of knowledge. He is well-known as a lecturer on education and 
scientific subjects ; very public spirited, and exerts a powerful influence in 
stimulating the literary, educational, and scientific interests. 

THE BUDDHIST'S QUEST. 

I sought for peace in classic love Pursue their unrelenting course 

But found its heroes all too gorv. For nature blasts her own creations. 

-Anns and the man " but nothing more: qj^_ ^.^^ , ^^^ ^^^^^j^ , ^^.^^^ j^j^^^^ ^^^.^^ 

Sweet peace dwells not m ancient story. j^-^^ ^^^ ^^-^-^^ ^^^^^ conscious members ? 

I sought in wine a subtle charm Is death of life the final hour ? 

To banish care and thirst for glor\-; Does death put out thought's glowing embers ? 

But oh! the mom brought double harm, j^.^ , j ^jj_^„ ^-^.^ ;„ ^^j^^^ ^^^^^ 

Peace fled and left a shameful story. ^„^ j,^^,^ ^^il^j through countless aons ; 

Fair science called with winning look: Shall vanquish death till life transforms 

I seized the gift and conned the pages This lowly song to angelic paeans. 

Of nature's ever-changing book, jl^ ^pi^^ p^^^ , q^ ^jj^f^, ^^^^__ 

Of laws unchanged through all the ages. Triumphant shout one glad hosanna ; 

From Monad up to man, one force, Then quickly melt on Buddha's breast 

One plan with endless variations And find sweet peace, long sought Nirvana. 

THE AGNOSTIC'S DISCOVERY. 

Delsarte's out of date, and art rather late ; The promise and potency, all, are found. 
The fashion just now is humanity's state; Of boundless life in the lifeless ground : 

What they call revelation don't touch an adult For the flame of life is a chemical trick. 
For evolution's the proper cult. And thought is only a twist of the wick. 

I can prove to a T, that the human race But come let me whisper a word in your ear : 

Have grown by steps to their present place, I've made a discovery that seems ver>- queer. 

From a structureless all of sure protoplasm, We have measured the casket as tho' 't was the 
And I've traced all the links that extend o'er whole 

the chasm. And neglected to measure and weigh the soul. 

"WITH SNOW-WREATH CROWNED." 

Her feverish youth is passed away ; Fills all the heart where love was missed ; 

Her restless longings now arc stilled ; .'Vnd tender truth and soft embrace 
Impatient life and dark dismay And words that wisdom sought and found. 

And anxious, struggling hope, which filled Make doubly clear the sunny face 

Her early years, are ended quite ; .^nd wrinkled brow with snow-wreath crowned. 

And life at sunset, calm, profound, , , j ^, ^ a , • i 

'^. As clouds that fleck a summer s sky 
Is sweet and mellow as the light, t-, ^ r ,-1^1 j- 

° Float for awliilc then disappear. 

Kissing her brow with snow-wreath crowned. _ ,■ , , , ^, , i ■ , ^ 

° So cares which darken youth s bright eye 

Not she regrets the dark-brown tress Melt into blue when age is near. 

Which once her lover fondly kissed ; Old age sours not the wine of life. 

For love was false, and gentleness But makes its flood full and round ; 



156 



LITERATURE OF 



Old age subdues the rising strife, Tlie gentle warmth of youth is best. 

And youth shall love the snow-wrcatli crowned. Oh ! call not back the years now fled ; 

«. . . ... , The song of youth's a siren sound, 

Then hasten on, thnce welcome age, s :> = . 

, J , . iiu r J i. I love the gentle bowing head 

-■^nd bring me wealth of peace and rest ; . " .* 

T, I- c r ii And wrinkled brow with snow-wreath crowned. 
The scorching fires of youth assuage ; 



GEORGE CRONOWAY 



Was born in Liverpool, England, February 6, 1842. As a sailor crossed the 
Atlantic over fifty times ; served in the commissary for the government at 
Harrisburg. Came to Wilkes-Barre twenty-four years ago and worked in the 
mines. Is now an Assistant Coal Shipper. His songs have been set to music 
by Dr. Joseph Parry (Gwilym Gwent), Prof. J. A. P. Price and others. 

THE ROSE OF LOVE. 



The Rose of Love ne'er withers, 

Nor doth its beauty fade ; 
A sweet perpetual flower, 

That grows in light and shade ; 
Its fragrance everlasting, 

Its stem with tender thorn ; 
The sweetest rose of roses — 

A rose by Angels worn. 

The Rose of Love most tender. 

Yet grows in ev'ry clime ; 
It brightly blooms in summer, 

And in the wintry time ; 
Adorns the humble cottage, 

As well as mansions fair — 
Than wealth or fame more precious, 

Than costly gems more rare. 



The Rose of Love in sorrow. 

Absorbs our ev'ry tear ; 
Life's gloomy path it brightens. 

Our weary soul doth cheer ; 
By hands divine transplanted. 

In this sad world of care ; 
A rose forever fragrant — 

A rose forever fair. 

The Rose of Love still fairer, 

Grows in its native land. 
Where never weeds of sorrow, 

Grow in its golden sand ; 
In that bright land of sunshine, 

The land unknown to gloom, 
The Rose of Love celestial. 

Grows ever in full bloom. 



MY OLD CLAY PIPE. 



My old clay pipe, my sweet clay pipe. 

My "chum " this many a day. 
And friends most dear, relations near — 

We are both made out of clay. 
When times are rough, we take our puff". 

To smooth the moments by ; 
No happier twain, on land or main, 

Than my old pipe and I. 

Chorus. 
My old clay pipe, my dear clay pipe. 

My sweet clay pipe and I ; 
No happier twain, on land or main. 

Than my old clay pipe and I. 



My old clay pipe, m3- faithful pipe. 

Since thou art in my employ, 
No clouds of care surround me dare, 

While in th)^ clouds of joy ; 
Age, makes thee dark, but turns me gray, 

One thing stands ever true ; 
Our friendship ne'er changed color yet, 

'Tis always r03-al blue. 

Oh ! may our friendship last for aye, 

Without a break or flaw — 
A bank of comfort thou'rt to me — 

On thee I alwa3'S draw. 
And may thy bowl run never short, 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 



157 



Of that sweet golden weed ; 
My pipe, my plug, my corner snug, 
Are all the friends I need. 

Remember, boys, we're mortals all, 

Built not too high below, 
Old death is 'round witli his pop-gun, 



Perhaps we're the next to go ; 
Draw wisdom from my old clay pipe, 

Take nothing for a joke ; 
Yet bear in mind, my honest friend, 

All things must end in smoke. 



FRED. WILLIAMS, 

Was born in Summercourt, Cornwall, England, July 30, 1848; educated in the 
parochial school of that place ; left home in his seventeenth year, came to the 
United States and located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in 187 1, and followed 
music as a profession. Later, located in Plymouth, worked as a miner and in- 
structedrfbands. In 1883 he was severely injured in the mines in Kingston, and 
in 1884 he was appointed Burgess and Justice of the Peace. Mr. Williams 
writes smooth and pleasing narrative and descriptive verse. The Boston Pilot 
published " Ingratitude, or Old Sport and His Master," and "To a Bullet." 
INGRATITUDE, OR OLD SPORT .\ND HIS MASTER. 

Old Sport lay on the door-mat, looking wcarv. In guarding you and all your goods, your wife 

worn and sad, and children, too ? 

The lustre of his eye was gone, his hearing, too. You never over-fed me, and the food you gave 

was bad, was poor ; 

The pangs of hunger pinched him, as he lay My bed was but a mat that lay outside the 

there all alone ; kitchen door. 

He'd gladly eat a crust of bread or gnaw a j,^.^ ^^^^^ ,^f^ ^^^, ^^^^^. „,p.,i ^^^ ^^^^^^ 

meatless bone. through the slush. 

His master in the prime of life, his board with To hunt the pheasant and the quail, through 

plenty spread, thick and tangled brush ; 

Good clotlies to wear and pillows soft, on which .\nd when you brought the quarry down, amid 

to lav his head, the snow and sleet 

Took Sport one dav into the woods and tied I faithfully and carefully have laid it at your 

him to a log ; feet ; 

And standing there with gun in hand, he thus ^^^ ^^^^^ hunting all the day, through swamps 



addressed the dog : 

MASTER. 

Old Sport, my bo\-, I'm sorr\-, but the time at 
last has come, 

When vou, like every other dog, must surely 
meet your doom. 

'Tis true you've been a faithful dog, and that's 
the reason why 

I wish you now may rest in peace, and there- 
fore, you must die. 

DOG. 
Is tliis my pay for faithfulness in serving you 
so true. 



and forest thick 
(Perhaps the verj' zeal I showed, repaid with 

cuff and kick). 
We've sought our home, and you your bed, you 

slept there safe and sound, 
While I stood as a sentinel upon the frozen 
ground. 

Because I'm feeble, old and deaf, blind, stupid, 

stiff and sore. 
You now withhold my scanty fare, and drive 

me from your door. 
I love you still, your children, too, I also love 

your wife, 



158 LITERATURE OF 

And if you still refuse me food, O, master, I saved your little Annie's life, for that, O, stay 

spare my life ! your hand ! 

MASTER. When she was drowning in the pond I brought 

I have a j-ounger dog thau yon, and p'rhaps her safe to land ; 

hc'sjust asgood, I watched her very tenderly, when she was 

He'll hunt and watch, and guard our house, weak and low 

and earn his daily food ; p^^ ^^^^^^ q ^^^^^^^ '^p^^^ ^^^. Uj.^ , q ^,^j^^_ 

Besides, I onlv want one dog — I ha-\-c no use , . , 

- ° let me go ! 

for two, 

And if I keep the j'ounger one, I must do STRANGER. 

away with you. I heard the piteous pleading, cry, I heard the 
DOG. dog's request, 

I never ha\-e deserted you, though hard has I saw the master raise the gun and point it at 

has Ijcen my lot, his breast ; 

Why, then, should I be tied like this, and like j stepp'd between the man and dog.ll stopp'd 

a felon shot ? the murderous shot, 

Whv would you wish to take awav, that whicli i ^ n i ti » i u i ■ r .. j r j u- 

-' .' ' ■ ^" I cut the cord that held him fast, and freed hini 

you cannot give ? 
^, ,.r' ■ ^ . on the spot. 

My life IS very sweet to me, O, master, let me 

live ! 

DANIEL L. HART 

Was born twenty-five years ago in the house in which he still resides in Wilkes- 
Barre. At the age of seventeen he entered the journalistic world and soon dis- 
tinguished himself as a sketch writer and humorist. At twenty-three he loomed 
up in the local horizon as a dramatist, and his cleverly written drama in four 
adls, entitled "Which," immediately demonstrated that he possessed wonder- 
ful ability as a writer of plays. The year following he produced an English 
society drama in four a(5ls, entitled " The Footman." The following from the 
Scranton Truth tells its own .story : 

"The presentation of 'The Footman' last evening, has crowned its brilliant 
young author with another grand success. The drama from beginning to end 
held the attention and won the admiration of the audience which frequently was 
awakened to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. The plot of the play is gracefully 
and delicately woven. It is constantly changing and drifts from pathos to 
humor, shadow to sunshine so imperceptibly that the lips are frequentlj' 
wreathed in smiles while the tear in the eye is still undried. In style it is 
distindtly original. Every line is chara(fteristic of the author, who can be rec- 
ognized as easily by his writings as by his photograph. ' Which ' and ' The 
Footman ' contain a vein of refined humor and sarcasm that is peculiarly Mr. 
Hart's, and reflects his peculiar personality as does his looking-glass. 'The 
Footman ' is strong in all points. In each a<5l the scenes gradually mount into 
climaxes which carry the audience to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. The 



THE WYOMING VALLEY. 159 

play is a poem, humorouslj' complete and perfedl in all details. * * * * 
Judging from the excellence of Mr. Hart's work, he will some day occupy a 
prominent place in the front rank of American playwrights." 

Dr. GEORGE URQUHART, 

Who was born at Lambertville, New Jersey, came to Wilkes-Barre in 1840, and 
attended school there and at the Wyoming Seminary from 1841 to 1847. He 
was graduated at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1850, and has 
since practiced medicine and surgery continuously in Wilkes-Barre. During 
the earh' part of his professional career. Dr. Urquhart gave much attention to 
surgical practice and was regarded by his compeers as one of the foremost sur- 
geons in Northeastern Pennsj-lvania. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Dr. 
Urquhart, brimful of patriotism, was strongly tempted to enter the army as 
Surgeon and Medical Director. Friends of his, both political and professional, 
knowing his superior qualifications for this work, awaited only his consent to 
place him where he might have rendered service of the greatest value and im- 
portance to the sick and wounded soldiers, but at this time the doctor w'as suf- 
fering from an accidental injury which unfitted him for field service and he was 
obliged to decline the overtures. He was examining surgeon for the draft in 
186 r. However, his desire to serve those who offered their lives to their 
country in its peril, never waned, and for eighteen years he served faithfully as 
an examiner for pensions, bringing into this service his ripe experience in prac- 
tice — his store of knowledge of anatomy, daily freshened by continuous study — 
his excellent judgment of men, and his sterling honesty ; all of which came to 
be so well recognized at the pension office that a recommendation from him was 
invariably followed promptly by corresponding executive action at Washington. 
He is one of the best prose writers in this sedtion. 

A. S. GREENE, 

Was born in London, England, May 18, 1821. He was educated at King's 
School, Rochester (Cathedral school, governed bj' the Dean and Chapter). 
Afterward he studied at St. Servan College, France, for about two years. His 
father is in an old East India house, and his only brother was killed in mutiny 
in the Indian army, on the staff of General Anson. He has two sisters living. 
Left France in 1849 to take clerkship in mercantile house in West Indies with 
friends of his father. In 1S51 he came to New York to fill position with a 
branch house there, with whom, and their successors, he remained ten or 
twelve years, then returned to West Indies to form partnership, in Port au 



i6o LITERATURE. 

Prince, with one of his former employers. Subsequently he fluctuated between 
New York and West Indies for several years. He was also engaged in the 
South American trade for a time. Finally, after some reverses, he took a posi- 
tion in the New York office of the Wilkes-Barre Coal Company with Mr. H. 
Tillinghast, Mr. Charles Pari.sh being then President of the Company. In 1869 
Mr. Parish recommended him to a vacancy in the office of Conyngham and 
Company, (then J. Stickney and Company), in Wilkes-Barre, with whom he 
remained over twenty years, and now resides in Philadelphia. 



END OF VOLUME I. 



414 93 



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